A Buffalo man on Monday pleaded not guilty to three felony charges after prosecutors say he purposely crashed his car into popular nightclub Bottoms Up in the city's entertainment district around 4:20 a.m. Sunday.
- Najeeb Shabazz Jackson faces three felony charges after allegedly driving his car into Bottoms Up on Chippewa St.
- Two people inside suffered minor injuries
- Prosecutors are also looking into the circumstances surrounding a security guard shooting his gun after the car crashed into the bar
The driver of the car, Najeeb Shabazz Jackson, 24, faces charges of assault, criminal mischief and reckless endangerment. He was arraigned in Buffalo City Court on Monday.
Prosecutors say he smashed his car into the building on Chippewa St. after nightclub security turned him away earlier in the night.
"This was not an accident. He intentionally drove his car through the front window of a bar. That is something that you clearly do not see every day," said John Flynn, Erie County district attorney.
Police have not charged Jackson with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, but investigators are still determining if that was a factor.
Flynn says his office is looking into the exact timeframe of what led up to Jackson to allegedly using his car as a weapon shortly after closing time. Two people inside had minor injuries as a result of the incident.
If it was 3:30 a.m. or if it was closer to 4 o'clock when it's last call, it could've been a lot worse, Flynn said.
Police say a security guard at Bottoms Up fired at least one shot after the car crashed into the building. Police did not file any charges against the guard. The District Attorney's Office is investigating whether he was justified in using his weapon or if he was legally allowed to carry one inside the bar.
"The fact that he chose to fire a weapon with what appears to be a number of people that were gathered around the bar is initially concerning to me," Flynn said.
Jacob Piorkowski, attorney for the owners of Bottoms Up, said the security guard does have a New York state license to carry a gun on the job. The nightclub's owners on Facebook thanked security and staff for protecting guests with quick thinking and unwavering commitment to safety.
Jackson faces up to seven years in prison if convicted. A judge set bail at $50,000 dollars. He's due back in court on Friday.