Michael Goldsmith, a 27-year-old man from Blue Island, Illinois, was tragically killed in a shooting at the Premium 127 Bar and Grill on April 11, 2016. The incident occurred around 1 a.m. when a fight broke out at the bar, leading to several individuals being kicked out by security. Shortly after, shots were fired, resulting in Goldsmith being taken to Christ Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation revealed that Anthony Timberlake, a 20-year-old man from Chicago, was charged with first-degree murder, aggravated discharge of a firearm, and felony mob action in connection with the shooting. Timberlake's bond was set at $1.5 million. Additionally, Troy V. Johnson, a club promoter from Chicago, was charged with obstruction of justice and destruction of evidence after detectives discovered he had picked up and disposed of shell casings.
The shooting also left another man injured, who was taken to MetroSouth Medical Center in Blue Island. The incident was the first fatal shooting in Blue Island in 2016, and the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force assisted local police in the investigation. The shooting was described as a rare but disturbing event in the community.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Henry Bays, who was wounded in the incident, filed a lawsuit against the club's owners, a promoter, and the accused gunman. Bays sought more than $150,000 in damages, alleging that the club allowed Timberlake, who was underage at the time, to become intoxicated and failed to provide adequate security. Timberlake remained held on $1.5 million bail at Cook County Jail.
