The Maverick Steak House Sunday night shooting in which two customers were wounded.
It is the second incident involving gunshots at the restaurant. The first was in December 2005, when three people, including a Norco firefighter, were hurt in a confrontation between two rival biker gangs during a toy drive in front of the restaurant and bar. Sunday's shooting had no connection to any biker gang, said Lt. Ross Cooper of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department. Sheriff's deputies arrested two Corona men Sunday night on suspicion of firing several shots at Maverick's, striking two customers inside. Deputies booked Isaac Flores, 26, and Robert Taylor Jr., 25, into Robert Presley Detention Center on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon. The shooting comes just months after the city and restaurant owner Rob Koziel reached an agreement on operating conditions for the restaurant.
The latest incident has city officials questioning the restaurant's fate. "We thought things were getting better, and then this happened," said Norco Mayor Frank Hall. Koziel could not be reached for comment. Cooper said there is a possibility that the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control could suspend or revoke Maverick's liquor license. "Right now, it is still too early to say. We're in a fact-gathering mode," said John Carr, public information "The report will help determine if there needs to be any disciplinary action," Carr said. Carr said the department needs to investigate whether the incident is the fault of Maverick's or if it was an isolated incident. Deputies said Flores and Taylor had a disagreement with other patrons at the bar. The pair left the bar in the 3800 block of Hamner Avenue shortly before 11 p.m. Sunday. When they returned a few minutes later, they opened fire in front of the business, deputies said. Paramedics took the victims to hospitals. Their wounds were not believed to be life-threatening. Deputies arrested the suspects after broadcasting a description of the vehicle the shooters left in. Officers stopped the pair on the 60 Freeway at Archibald Avenue. On Tuesday, Hall said he was not aware of all the circumstances of the shooting and was waiting for the sheriff's report. Hall said the city will then determine if the Planning Commission should consider any changes to Maverick's operating permit or if deputies should deal with the situation. "We don't like to see this happen in our city," Hall said.
The council is expecting to receive an update on the recent modifications from Koziel within the next month.
"It (the shooting) indicates that, maybe the Maverick is still attracting a fairly rough element," he said. "It's concerning, but you can be sure we'll be addressing it."