City Closes Teutonia Gas and Food Again

Site of Teutonia Gas and Food, 4295 N. Teutonia Ave. Photo taken Oct. 11, 2023 by Sophie Bolich.

The Milwaukee Common Council on Tuesday reaffirmed its decision to close Teutonia Gas and Food at 4295 N. Teutonia Ave., voting unanimously to revoke the business’s license for a second time.

The move follows a deadly shooting in 2023 and an ensuing legal battle over the station’s operations. Throughout the process, community members repeatedly voiced concerns, claiming the business had a negative impact on neighborhood safety.

Teutonia Gas and Food was effectively closed in October 2023, when the council first revoked the license. However, owner Gurinder Nagra sued to reopen it. Last summer, Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Glenn Yamahiro reversed the city’s decision and sent the matter back to the council for reconsideration.

The remanded hearing, which took place on Jan. 31 and lasted over two and a half hours, was ordered by the court after it determined the original 2023 hearing had not been conducted lawfully. Both hearings focused primarily on the killing of Isaiah Allen, who was fatally shot by William Pinkin, an off-duty employee, on Aug. 16, 2023.

Nagra appeared at the hearing with his attorney, Emil Ovbiagele, and answered questions about the business’s relationship with police, its safety protocols and Pinkin’s employment status. Alderman Peter Burgelis noted that Nagra had revised the business’s plan of operation prior to the shooting, mandating security presence during operating hours. However, no security was on-site when Allen was shot.

“I just want to be very clear that the business’s plan of operation was not followed, and this incident, unfortunately, tragically happened,” Burgelis said.

Ovbiagele clarified that at the time of the amendment, Nagra did not realize he was unable to afford full-time security. He also explained that the gas station has a non-confrontation policy, instructing employees not to reprimand thieves but to call the police when necessary. He pushed back against claims that Nagra had told employees not to do so.

Nagra said he spoke to his workers, including Pinkin, about the policy.

“Today, I still can’t understand why that happened,” he said. “Why would somebody from the community shoot their own people for stealing a couple bags of chips?”

According to Nagra, Pinkin was hired for cleaning services and occasional monitoring of the business, but was not designated as a security guard. Nagra, who previously told committee members that employees are verbally instructed not to carry firearms (though the policy is not in writing), maintains that he was unaware Pinkin was armed.

Following the shooting, Pinkin was charged with first-degree intentional homicide. He pled not guilty during a preliminary hearing on Sept. 12, 2023 and remains in custody. A jury trial is scheduled for April 28.

The committee also discussed several instances of gunplay at the premises, including a shots-fired incident on Nov. 12, 2022, as well as two armed robberies and a ShotSpotter complaint in 2023.

Ovbiagele said that Nagra has taken steps to improve the business, including complying with police recommendations. He also expressed willingness to implement safety measures like closing earlier during the summer months and hiring a licensed and bonded security officer between the hours of 9 p.m. and close.

But Allen’s mother, Natalie Easter Allen, took issue with Nagra’s plan.

“If you had hired the security guard … when you were told to, my son would still be here,” she said through tears, adding that she doesn’t believe the business can — or will — improve.

Ovbiagele said the changes would require more time. “Given the haste in which things were done, my client really didn’t get an opportunity to put forth a comprehensive plan in terms of what he intends to do to address some of these concerns and reduce the likelihoods of these things happening.”

The attorney also pointed to a general uptick in crime, suggesting that businesses like Nagra’s shouldn’t bear the full blame for broader issues. He argued that Pinkin committed “premeditated murder,” and that the business could not have anticipated or prevented the behavior.

“This was not happening in a vacuum,” he said. “This was happening at a time when there was a rise in crime across the city.”

Several additional neighbors, along with officers from the Milwaukee Police Department who were present due to a subpoena, gave testimony during the hearing.

“They have failed our community, said Shawn Moore, who added that since the revocation, the neighborhood has “found some peace again.”

Alderman Scott Spiker concluded the lengthy meeting with a motion to revoke the license, specifically relating to “guns fired in the premises, loitering, the illegal drug activity, problematic area… and failure to comply with the approved plan of operations.” There were no objections.

Nagra and Ovbiagele filed written objections ahead of Tuesday’s council meeting, but did not appear in person. The decision passed with 13 votes. Alderman Russell W. Stamper, II was excused.

Ovbiagele did not respond to a request for comment by the time of publication.

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