Gaming bar where Jacksonville Landing mass shooting happened wasn't legally permitted to be there

The gaming bar where the Jacksonville Landing mass shooting happened wasn't legally permitted to be there.

The fire marshal said the layout of Chicago Pizza was not originally designated to have a game room, adding that the Madden 19 tournament should not have been held there.

“You have to follow your guidelines and have to take proper procedures,” gamer, Lou Ortiz said.

Action News Jax was at the restaurant when the city fire marshal put a cease and desist on the front doors of Chicago Pizza.

“I received notification that the last one I had was removed or covered up and this is public notice,” Chief Kevin Jones said.

The fire marshal states that the last approved layout was in 2009 which did not include a designated game room and it’s the only one that is legally acceptable.

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RELATED: Fire marshal: Jacksonville Landing game room was not permitted

Also, the video game tournament should not have happened because it was held in an illegal video game room and had Chicago Pizza not illegally altered its plan, ultimately the shooting would not have happened.

The owner said he is aware that people are going to put blame on his business for the shooting.

“That’s fine, it’s all going to keep happening,” the owner of Chicago Pizza said.

The restaurant was also cited for obstruction of exits and stated that the placement of video machines was in violation of the city’s code.

Action News Jax law and safety expert Dale Carson said this could have put lives in jeopardy.

“That’s important in this circumstance because people were not able to get out quickly,” Carson said.

A spokesperson for the Jacksonville Landing said that they aren’t commenting on the cease and desist Wednesday night because of the vigil for the victims of the shooting.

Cox Media Group