ASHEVILLE, N.C. — A recent shooting near a downtown Asheville bar has intensified the ongoing debate about safety on Lexington Avenue. Police have charged a convicted felon in connection with the incident, but the suspect remains at large.
Police said the violence began at Tiger Mountain, where a fight spilled into the street before shots were fired in a nearby parking lot. However, Patrick Keith, the owner of Tiger Mountain, said his staff only intervened to break up the fight and that his bar is being unfairly implicated by police.
“Why did they select Tiger Mountain? I don’t know,” said Keith. He added, “Yes, I told them specifically. They were outside. I mean, nothing happened in here.”…