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Council revokes Karma Restaurant & Lounge late‑night use permit after repeated police incidents
Summary
Following staff and HPD testimony that documented multiple fights, a fatal April shooting nearby, missing or wiped footage, and repeated permit violations, council voted to revoke Karma's Restaurant‑3 use permit; the owner and many supporters urged remediation and another chance.
Hampton City Council voted to revoke the Restaurant‑3 use permit for Karma Restaurant & Lounge after a lengthy hearing in which staff and police described a pattern of violent incidents and security shortfalls.
City staff and an HPD officer reviewed a series of incidents at the business, including multiple parking‑lot fights, an April 11 shooting in which a victim was shot in the neck and later died, several assaults, and repeated failures to comply with permit conditions. The HPD officer said security failed to patrol the parking lot, did not use two‑way radios consistently, and in some cases did not contact HPD when violence occurred. HPD identified 97 calls for service at 85–87 Lincoln Street over the review period, including 13 assaults/fights, six firearm‑related calls, and other incidents. Inspectors also reported evidence suggesting tampering with head‑counts and that portions of the business’s recorded video footage had been wiped after an incident, hindering investigations.
Courtney Ray, the business owner, acknowledged incidents, said he has invested personal retirement funds to open and operate the business, described steps he is taking to improve security, and presented attendees who testified about the establishment’s community value and jobs. Ray’s attorney asked council to defer and allow more time to produce documents and pursue remediation; several council members said they had expected a concrete mitigation plan earlier in the process. After deliberation, council voted to revoke use permit 24‑0489 for failure to comply with use‑permit conditions. City staff noted that revocation removes the Restaurant‑3 late‑night alcohol/nightclub classification but does not require closure of a food service operation under a lower permit category; staff said applications to operate under a Restaurant‑1 or ‑2 classification could be processed quickly if the owner chooses to continue operations in a modified form.
