Fight between men leads to shooting outside Tempe bar near ASU campus
TEMPE, AZ (AZFamily) — Court documents released on Wednesday reveal that a physical fight between two men led to a shooting outside a popular bar during the weekend.
Authorities say 29-year-old Dakota Barnes was arrested Tuesday afternoon on two counts of aggravated assault and one count of unlawful discharge in connection with Saturday’s shooting.
According to court paperwork, Barnes met with his girlfriend at Casey Moore’s Oyster House near Ash Avenue and 9th Street on Saturday afternoon and the victim was already there. Barnes said he had food with his girlfriend and the other man stayed at the bar drinking.
Before leaving, Barnes’ girlfriend went to the bathroom. While walking to the parking lot, Barnes told police the victim punched him in the back of the head, court documents said. He reportedly said he stumbled into the street, turned around and shot the man in the stomach area just before 3 p.m. Barnes later said his gun jammed.
A man who lived nearby came out of his house with a cellphone and Barnes told him, “Put the (expletive) phone away, I’m going to come back for you,” while pointing the gun at him, court documents said.
Police said Barnes ran to his car, still at Casey Moore’s, and he and his girlfriend got inside. That’s when the shooting victim jumped on the hood of the car to stop Barnes from leaving, investigators said. Barnes drove, then quickly stopped, and the man slid off the hood. Barnes then drove off, police said.
The victim later said Barnes ‘coerced’ the girlfriend to go with Barnes and he jumped on the hood because he was scared for Barnes’ girlfriend’s life, court paperwork said.
Barnes’ car was found two blocks away with blood on the hood and the California license plate swapped out for an Arizona one, court records said. Police said they found 500 THC cartridges, mason jars full of liquid resin and a gun used in the shooting in the trunk.
On Monday, Barnes’ lawyer called police and said Barnes was willing to surrender. On Tuesday, around 3:15 p.m., he gave himself up at the Tempe police station.
The shooting victim underwent surgery and is in stable condition, as of Tuesday afternoon.
Neighbors say Casey Moore’s Oyster House is the last place you’d expect a fight, let alone a shooting. “We love Casey Moore’s. It’s one of our favorite spots,” said Mikaela Coppinger, who lives across the street from the bar.
The Irish pub has been around for decades and draws an eclectic crowd, including ASU students and families. “This is a good neighborhood bar, you know. There’s the neighborhood right back here so there’s a lot of locals that come here all the time,” said neighbor Ben Douglass.
So when gunshots rang out on Saturday, many regulars were surprised. “Even though it is busy around here, it’s never that crazy. I mean, cop cars, normal. Twenty down the street, not normal,” said Coppinger.
Barnes appeared in court on Wednesday. “This is a case of self-defense,” Barnes’ lawyer said during his initial court appearance.
Court records say Barnes lives in California and has ties to Nevada, so he is considered a flight risk. He is being held on a $50,000 bond.
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