Del Denby Tavern must close after shooting

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Del Denby’s Tavern, located on Hertel Avenue in Buffalo, has been closed by the city following a shooting early Tuesday morning that left one man dead.

A cease and desist letter was placed on the building Tuesday afternoon, ordering (the) tavern to be “closed to preserve the peace and good order.”

Tuesday morning’s shooting, which happened around 1 a.m., left a 46-year-old man dead after he was involved in a fight on the patio outside the bar. Police said at a news conference Tuesday that they believe the suspected shooter and the victim knew each other and that this was not a random act of violence.

“These situations, as we have seen, can happen anywhere. The important thing to remember is that they knew each other. This is not a random act,” Chief of Detectives Craig Macy said.

Police said the bar did not have security on duty at the time of the incident.

News 4 spoke to the bar’s owner, John Daly, hours before the bar was ordered to close. He said his heart goes out to the victim’s family.

“There is gun violence everywhere and it’s just unfortunate. People must respect each other,” he said. “It’s just terrible and senseless.”

This was not the first act of violence at the bar. In June 2021, a man was hospitalized after a shooting following a disturbance that spilled outside. The person was shot during a large fight.

This is also not the first time that Buffalo police have used their authority to shut down establishments where violence has broken out. Last December, police closed Club Marcella on Michigan Avenue after four shootings, including one fatality, occurred in and near the club in less than a year. In 2022, Señor Tequila Mexican Restaurant on Pearl Street was closed following several incidents. In 2018, Groove Lounge on Broadway was closed after a shooting injured two people, including an off-duty Buffalo police officer. A homicide also took place in front of the bar in 2017.

Business operations at Del Denby’s must cease immediately upon ordering.