On the first day of the new year, a pillar of the Racine community, 66-year-old Black / African American male Avery Rerun Stewart, lost his life in a tragic turn of events at his own establishment. Known affectionately as "Rerun," Stewart was the proprietor of Rerun's Lounge, a place he had run for over two decades, where he was known for his love of entertaining people.
In the early hours of January 1, 2023, an altercation broke out within the bar.
Stewart was attempting to de-escalate a situation with an agitated customer when the scene devolved into chaos. Another individual, 56-year-old Billy Petty, reportedly came to Stewart's assistance. In the ensuing struggle, a gun held by Petty accidentally discharged, and the bullet struck Stewart, who then collapsed.
Moments later, the situation escalated further when another man, identified as 24-year-old Abdullah Rashada, allegedly appeared with a firearm and shot Petty. When authorities arrived at Rerun's Lounge, both Stewart and Petty were found on the floor near the entrance with fatal gunshot wounds. The tragic incident, which claimed two lives, was captured on high-quality surveillance video inside the bar.
Following an investigation, an arrest warrant was issued for Abdullah Rashada. He was subsequently charged with first-degree intentional homicide in connection with the death of Billy Petty, as well as several counts of endangering safety. He was not, however, charged in relation to Avery Stewart's death. After a trial, a jury found Rashada not guilty of the homicide charge but he did plead guilty to a gun felony. For this, he was sentenced to two years in prison followed by three years of extended supervision. The death of Avery Stewart, a man described as a beloved community figure, was a heartbreaking consequence of a volatile situation that unfolded in the place he had dedicated so much of his life to.
