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December 4, 2009

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Family sues restaurant in shooting death of boy

Wednesday, Sept. 1, 1999 | 10:15 a.m.

A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed over the shooting of a 17-year-old boy in the doorway of a restaurant on East Charleston Boulevard during a teenage "rave" party on Jan. 1, 1998.

The lawsuit was filed Monday by Teresa Flores, the mother of Gerardo Enrique Mejia, against the Casa Tequila restaurant.

The legal action, filed through attorney Joe Scalia, alleges the club overlooked drinking by underage participants and gave "free rein to consume drugs."

Metro Police concluded Mejia, a student at Clark High School, was either caught in the crossfire or was a victim of a gang-related incident. The lawsuit said the teenager's death was "later determined to have been a mistake."

The slaying occurred just minutes after the new year was sounded and those attending the private party in the restaurant at 1815 E. Charleston Blvd., near Spencer Street, were celebrating. The term rave refers generally to parties attended by dozens of teenagers that feature all-night dancing at large facilities often in out-of-the-way locations.

Police said a fight broke out and Mejia was shot in the chest. He collapsed outside the door and died from the single gunshot wound.

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