Editor’s Note: The broken glass around the Jackpot bar was caused by vandals the day after the brawl and Jackpot closed.
The Jackpot Bar on Hillsborough Street had an eventful closing Thursday night.
According to reports, Evan Lawrence, a 23-year old man, barely managed to survive following a late night brawl that left him with a blood clot in the brain. The injury forced him to undergo surgery at Rex Hospital. He remained in critical condition as of Saturday evening.
Jenny Johnson, marketing coordinator at Rex Hospital, said Lawrence has not been discharged and remains under observation.
“He’s in critical condition,” Johnson said.
According to an Oct. 3 News and Observer report, Lawrence was partying with friends at the bar at 1303 Hillsborough St. near downtown Raleigh when the incident took place. Lawrence stepped outside to smoke a cigarette, accidently flicking the cigarette onto someone. This led the attacker to retaliate, which ballooned into a full-scale brawl which left the bar’s window panes smashed.
Residents living near the bar said almost 50 pounds of glass—from bottles, glasses and windows were smashed during the fight, and are still lying across the road from the bar.
Arthur Perry, who lives close to the Jackpot Bar on Hillsborough Street, said he was not aware of how the fight started.
“There was glass strewn all over the place. I don’t know how it all actually started, but they must have had a big fight,” Perry said.
Perry said the Jackpot Bar was planning on closing down after that night, and this was just incidental.
It was a crowded night and the lot was packed with cars, Perry said. The bar’s window now has a gaping slit, wide enough for a thin person to enter.
According to Perry, the Jackpot Bar has always been a place for miscreants.
“They were a bunch of drunken revelers,” Perry said. “It’s good that they are closed now, they were always very loud and rowdy.”
No N.C. State students were found to be involved in the incident.
Lawrence’s family was unavailable for comment Sunday night.
