Prosecutor Says Video Of Slaying Of Security Officer At Bella Vita Nightclub Disproves Self-Defense

Prosecutor Lance Pope said Tuesday that a video of the slaying of security officer Johnny Sanders at the Bella Vista Nightclub disproves a theory of self defense.

After a preliminary hearing at which the video was played, General Sessions Court Judge David Bales found probable cause to bind Andrew Wilson’s case to the Grand Jury. He kept his total bond at $1,015,000.

In April of 2013, Wilson was charged with criminal homicide and tampering with or fabricating evidence in the slaying of Desmond McClure outside an establishment on East Main Street. He is now facing charges of criminal homicide and possession of a firearm with intent to go armed in the latest incident that occurred on May 8 at the club on Cowart Street.

When police arrived, they found that the security officer had suffered a gunshot wound to his chest. He was pronounced dead at Erlanger Hospital shortly after.

During an interview with detectives, Wilson told police he had shot the victim in self defense because the security officer had drawn a pistol while in a fist fight with another man. He later said the security officer did not draw a pistol, but put his hand on his holstered pistol.

Security officers at the scene during the incident described the events shown in the video as it played in the courtroom.

Jeff Hall, head of J-Hall Security, said Mr. Sanders, who was working for him, was arguing outside the club with a patron he knew only as “Money.” He said “Money,” who was visibly drunk, had recently been in the hospital, so he stepped between them.

During the verbal altercation, he told Judge Bales, the defendant came over and said “Money” was his cousin and they weren’t going to touch him.

The witness said he maced the defendant because “he was threatening me.” He said the defendant told him, "You’ll feel funny if I put a hole in you.”

Already on the phone with 911, Mr. Hall said he told dispatch they needed police officers immediately, since Wilson was “a known shooter.”

He said Wilson can be seen in the video walking off, rubbing his eyes after being maced. When he took “Money” over to his car and Mr. Sanders and “Money” began throwing punches, however, Mr. Hall said the defendant came “from around the car out of nowhere” and shot Mr. Sanders.

He told Judge Bales that Wilson then turned the gun on him, but another security officer, George Ivy, grabbed Wilson and detained him. He said Mr. Sanders had a gun, as well as an armed security license, but never used his weapon.

Mr. Ivy said he and Mr. Sanders had worked together before and were friends. He said Mr. Sanders had been in the military and took being threatened seriously. He also said the victim was very protective of the people he worked with.

When asked by defense attorney Donna Miller at what point he became emotional, Mr. Ivy responded, “Johnny dying and getting shot and killed, that didn’t hit me till Monday morning at work when I was sitting down reading reports and thinking of his kids.”