Fayetteville nightclub standoff ends with woman's arrest
FAYETTEVILLE (WTVD) -- The owner of a Fayetteville restaurant and sports bar says he is adding extra security after a woman walked into the business Thursday night armed with a handgun.
The woman demanded to know why her friend had been fired from the bar.
Samuel McGill owns Legendz Restaurant and Sports Bar in the 3100 block of Raeford Road. He said he told the woman he could not release that information.
"She just started shouting out loud somebody was going to give her an explanation as to why," said McGill.
He called 911 and police rushed to the scene, quickly blocking off part of Raeford Road, and several streets around the business and the Tallywood Shopping Center.
Police said 34-year-old Nieasha Wingster did not allow patrons to leave.
"That was part of our initial concern," said Fayetteville Police Lt. Todd Joyce. "Officers responding to the scene , wanted to make sure it was safe for everyone to get them out safe."
As a police SWAT team stood by, a negotiator convinced Wingster to put down her handgun and surrender.
She is charged with second-degree kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon, and communication of threats. Wingster was released from the Cumberland County Detention Center on $5,000 secured bond. She isn't commenting on the incident.
McGill told ABC11 that he has known Wingster for about four years. He thinks she had planned the incident.
"When she came in, she walked right past me to where other guys were talking," said McGill, "and then she went over and talked to a few other people. I noticed her whispering in a few peoples' ears, and then they would get up and leave and walk out the door."
Friday night it was business as usual at Legendz, as McGill and his employees get ready for the restaurant/sports bar's grand opening Saturday.
Just to be safe, McGill said he is adding extra security for the parking lot and at the front door.
