2nd shooting at Abilene hookah lounge leaves residents, nearby businesses concerned

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – A hookah lounge located on the 700 block of North 6th Street experienced a second shooting incident in less than a year.

The 6th Street Center is a historic property built in the early 1900s and is recognized as the first African American hotel in Abilene. Located in the 700 block of North 6th Street, this property is now home to several businesses, with the second floor previously serving as an event center. Most recently, the second floor has been rented out to serve as a hookah lounge and local hangout.

On Saturday, May 31, at around 2:00 a.m., an incident occurred at that hookah lounge when one patron shot another. This type of incident isn’t new for this location, as back in October of 2024, another shooting incident took place when a man who was in a crowd allegedly tried to push his way inside the establishment, and a security guard who was hired by the hookah lounge was accused of fatally shooting the individual.

Concerns over this gathering spot have been voiced as recently as the May 8 Abilene City Council meeting, where notable Abilene figure Reverend Andrew Penns addressed the council about issues he and those who live in the area are experiencing.

“I come with a concern about a club that has opened in the Carver neighborhood. Anytime from about 2 to 3:00 in the morning, I’m being woken up by music from that club. Not only myself, but others in the neighborhood have voiced concern,” Penns said to the council.

Businesses in the area are also expressing concerns following the incident at the historic building. President Shawnte Fleming-Lewis of the non-profit Let Us Breath-Abilene, which is located right next to where the shooting occurred, spoke about what she and other business owners are now facing.

“It was always a privilege for me to be here. The residents are all complaining about here, and eventually, this is going to turn into something bigger that is going to be out of control,” Fleming-Lewis shared. “We’re just looking to try to contain, try to figure out what the best plan is. We just have to do a better job about protecting Abilene.”

The property owner for the 6th Street Center, who wishes to remain unidentified, spoke about how he traditionally rents the space for events and was leasing the property to a 3rd party when the incident occurred. They say that after this incident, they are looking to cooperate fully with city authorities for the next step in securing safety on this property.

“I’m going to take the recommendations from the police department and the city. We’re going to comply fully with whatever the city says. The violence… It’s got to stop.”

As of now, neither the individual who was shot nor the shooter has been identified. The injured party was transported to the hospital, where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries, and the suspect in this incident has not yet been arrested. An investigation is currently underway, and police are asking anyone with information on the incident or the possible shooter to come forward and contact Abilene Crime Stoppers at (325) 676-8477.