ABLE Investigating Okla Bar After Teen Shot In Lot

A sports bar that was hosting a party for a teenager when a 13-year-old boy was fatally shot in its parking lot did not follow procedures for admitting minors, authorities said. Jordan Sigli, a sixth-grader at Emerson Elementary School, died at a hospital early Tuesday after he was hit in a drive-by shooting about 10:20 p.m. Sunday outside Tanzi Sports Bar, 3205 N. Peoria Ave., Tulsa police said. Police said the boy was headed to a 17-year-old's birthday party at the sports bar. But to allow minors inside, the business would have had to notify the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement Commission 10 days in advance that it was hosting a private event, ABLE Capt. Kent James said. James said the agency was not notified. Initially, he could only confirm that ABLE's Tulsa office had not received notification, saying early Tuesday that he was unsure whether the Oklahoma City office had been notified. The agency has opened an inquiry into the business, he said. Minors can enter bars that are reserved for private events if no alcohol is served, James said. Violations of Oklahoma's liquor laws are punishable by fines or suspended or revoked liquor licenses. Tulsa police said it appeared that the sports bar had been rented for the teenager's party and that it was not serving alcohol. Owner Rashida Mack said she was not aware of the requirement to report private events attended by minors. She said she once regularly rented out the building to parents for children's birthday parties but decided to stop after two children fought at a recent party. Sunday was an exception because Mack said she had promised a girl that she would host her birthday party. Several parents and dozens of teenagers attended, she said. She said she had always removed alcohol from the building during children's parties and supplied punch and snacks. That was the case Sunday, she said. Authorities "don't even have to worry about it because I'm not going to have any more kid's parties anyway," she said. She said she had no contact with ABLE as of Wednesday but planned to cooperate with any investigation. Donald Walker, who leases the building to Mack, said "she runs a nice, clean establishment" and that he was shocked to hear of the shooting. Police said they are more focused on finding leads in the slaying than investigating the sports bar. Sigli was shot moments after a friend's mother dropped off him and several friends for the party, according to police and a boy who said he was with Sigli. Although no one else was hit, police said they had no evidence that Sigli was the target. It was more likely to be someone in the crowd outside the sports bar who had some connection to the shooters, police said. The shots reportedly came from a damaged gold or tan '90s-model Ford Crown Victoria or Mercury Grand Marquis that sped by on Peoria Avenue. Police found numerous shell casings from two different guns, leading investigators to believe that there were multiple shooters. Mack said she believes Sigli was actually at a car wash next to her business and that the shooters must have been aiming there. The car wash is a popular hangout for teenagers and "has been a problem for years," she said. "We have a nice crowd every night," she said. "The only reason I get business is because they know Tanzi is safe and that the car wash is the problem." Tulsa Police Sgt. Dave Walker said investigators were still confident Wednesday that Sigli was shot in the sports bar's parking lot. The boy who said he was with Sigli said they were there for the party. Investigators had few leads on the shooters Wednesday but were not ruling out gang activity.