A 20-year-old Texas Tech student died from a stabbing after an altercation at Mesquite’s Bar and Grill on Broadway Avenue early Thursday morning, according to a press release from Lubbock Police Department.
The press release states police responded to a report of a stabbing victim at University Medical Center Emergency Room. The victim, Zachary Kafer, had been transported to the hospital by a private vehicle after being involved in an altercation at Mesquite’s.
Police located and arrested the 20-year-old suspect, John Henry Allen, at U-Loft Apartments on University Avenue.
Kelsey Blasberg, a senior animal science major from Cypress, Texas, was leaving Bar PM when she passed by the scene at Mesquite’s and recorded a video on her phone.
“There was blood all over the ground outside,” she said.
John Henry Allen’s headshot from the Lubbock Police Department press release.
Blasberg said that after she stopped recording, the police officer told them the liquid on the ground was water mixed with blood because someone had been stabbed. She said she recognizes the suspect from when she was at Mesquite’s earlier in the night.
“I just can’t believe that dude was chilling right next to us the whole night,” she said.
Only people 21 and older were allowed in Mesquite’s Wednesday night, Blasberg said, and the minors probably got in by using fake IDs.
TheTexas Alcoholic Beverage Commission has received six complaints about the bar since 2008, including a violation for serving a minor.
The bar posted on Facebook on Wednesday to “Come by and get twisted.” Mesquite’s Facebook page was inactive as of 1:30 p.m. Thursday.
The bar is owned by Shane Byrd, who also owns National Bonding on Main Street, according to his LinkedIn profile.
The victim, Zachary Kafer. Photo from Facebook.
According to an employee of Mesquite’s, the stabbing happened in the parking lot next to the bar.
A Tech student who asked to remain anonymous said Allen was buying him drinks at Mesquite’s.
“[Allen] did tell me he was on 120 milligrams of Vyvanse,” he said. “But he wasn’t violent towards me at all.”
Chris Cook, Tech’s managing director of communications and marketing, said he is unable to release any information at this time.
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