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The family of 22-year-old Dallas "DJ" Barrett is searching for answers after the young Black man was pronounced dead following an altercation with security guards at Dierks Bentley's Whiskey Row, a rooftop bar in Nashville.
According to a report from Rutheford Source, officers from the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department responded to a call from the bar at approximately 11 p.m. on August 16. After arriving at the bar, officers found Barrett unresponsive on the ground and began administering CPR. Shortly thereafter, Nashville Fire Department personnel transported Barrett to Vanderbilt Medical Center where he was officially pronounced dead.
A media release from the MNPD alleges that "Barrett became unruly and was asked to leave." From there, security guards reportedly "pulled [Barrett] to the ground and held him on the floor." While on the ground, Barrett became unresponsive.
Within the last 48 hours, Barrett's death has gained national attention on social media. Locally, Nashville residents have also raised issues with how this incident was handled. Thus far, it appears that Whiskey Row has remained open for business while police investigate the matter. As a result, citizens have accused the city of punishing Black establishments more harshly than white establishments when violence occurs.
In addition, Whiskey Row has not publicly announced that any security guards involved in the matter have been disciplined internally.
"White security guards on Broadway murdered this kid," popular Nashville comedian Joshua Black tweeted.
"How is a young man 'found dead' at a major business? If the cause of death is homicide [and] security guards fought him, did someone hide his body? We need to hear more about these 'security guards.' I refuse to believe that hanging out in new Nashville makes murder justifiable," Jeff Obafemi Carr, founder of The Infinity Center in Nashville, added
According to WKRN, Barrett's death has been labeled a homicide, but no arrests have been made. Police are asking those who were at Whiskey Row on August 16 to submit any video of the homicide if they have it.
"Detectives have been able to view one cell phone video of the incident, but are asking other persons who may have recorded video of the altercation on the upper floor/roof area of Whiskey Row Monday night to please contact the MNPD," a police media release reads.
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