On January 20, 2024, 33-year-old Tyrone Tyars was fatally shot at the Machista Bar in San Pedro, California, around 12:15 a.m. He had arrived to pick up his fiancée after she called saying she felt unsafe because of an altercation inside the bar. A woman opened fire, striking Tyars, his fiancée, and a 44-year-old man. Tyars was pronounced dead at the scene; the other two victims suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The shooter fled the scene.

The Los Angeles Police Department, assisted by the FBI, arrested 18-year-old Estrella Rojas in San Pedro on March 7, 2024. Rojas was charged with one count of murder and three counts of attempted murder, and investigators linked her to a January 6 shooting that they say is not related to the Machista Bar attack. Tyars’ family described him as a loving father of two and called for justice. Community members pointed to the bar’s history of violence and urged its closure. The Tyars family has filed a lawsuit against Machista Bar alleging negligence; civil rights attorney Ben Crump joined the family in announcing the suit and demanding accountability.

Are there witnesses or information about security and prior incidents at Machista Bar that could help the family’s case?