‘I don’t know why’: Deadly shooting shuts down Visalia restaurant

VISALIA, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Two people have been arrested in connection with a fatal shooting early Saturday morning inside a Downtown Visalia restaurant. Now, the restaurant is shut down after the city cited multiple code violations.

One person was killed and two others were wounded after a fight broke out just before 1:45 a.m. inside Sebby’s Italian Steakhouse.

The owner tells YourCentralValley, he’s not sure how the suspect brought in a gun, since they have security at the entrance patting people down.

“Stuff like this doesn’t happen at this restaurant. We have a really good safety team, really good security team,” said Joseph Zavala, Sebby’s Executive Chef. 

Sebby’s operates as a restaurant for the first part of the night, typically closing between 9 to 10 p.m. Then it turns into a bar, “Rumors nightlife,” Zavala added. Which shuts down before 1:45 am. But Saturday morning, as the lounge was closing, someone started shooting. 

“Our security staff moved swiftly, and they were able to subdue the suspect and relieve him of his firearm, place him in handcuffs, and hold him until the authorities came,” Zavala shared.

But the Visalia Police Department says not one, but two people were arrested. Officials will not comment on how the two other victims are doing.

“We’re not releasing any of the names or genders due to it’s an ongoing investigation,” said Liz Jones, Visalia Police Department’s Public Information Officer.

In response to the shooting, the owners say they voluntarily closed both the restaurant and the lounge for the rest of the weekend. However, the city says it has issued a cease-and-desist order, forcibly shutting it down due to multiple code violations.

But owner Ramez Aldaoud says they haven’t violated any ordinances.

“I don’t know why the city is shutting me down,” he explained.

The city would not say what regulations were violated. Aldaoud says he will have to wait till Monday morning to speak with officials and try to resume business.

“I need to open up and make a living and serve our Visalians,” she shared.

Police say this is an ongoing investigation. If you have any information, you are asked to contact the Visalia Police Department at 559-734-8117.