PITTSBURGH — The district attorney is stepping in two weeks after a woman was raped in the South Side.
He’s pointing fingers at the bar she was at the night she was assaulted.
District Attorney Stephen Zappala told Channel 11 on Thursday that he is starting the process of taking the liquor license away from Capo’s Bar on East Carson Street.
His announcement comes after a woman was at the bar two weeks ago and became visibly intoxicated.
He said that security kicked her out of the bar and did nothing to ensure that she was safe once she left.
That’s when she came in contact with Larry Pappy Johnson, who police say raped her in a nearby parking lot, left her there and stole her belongings.
Surveillance cameras captured the assault on video and investigators say the woman was unconscious during the attack.
After a several-day manhunt, Johnson was just arrested outside of New York City.
As for the bar, the DA told us Capo’s has had a number of problems over the last two years it’s been in business.
“I’ve directed my office to prepare a petition and we are going to take a shot at taking their license. I will invite discussion with the owner and their attorneys. A very serious discussion. We’re not playing around with these guys anymore,” Zappala said.
When Channel 11 first found out about the sexual assault, Capo’s said the victim was never at the bar that night.
The DA told us that is not true.
“She’s visibly intoxicated. She’s let out of that establishment by security. They don’t take care of her. She winds up in the hands of a rapist.” Zappala said.
He expects further action to develop.
“I’ve consulted with a couple civil lawyers about the civil liability in Capo’s in that regard, and I think they’re going to have problems…not just criminally, and a license, but on the civil side,” Zappala said.
Councilperson Bob Charland told Channel 11 Capo’s has been an issue on East Carson for the last two years it’s been open.
“This is a bar as far as I understand; anything goes. There’s drug use, overserving; it’s the worst bar we have on the street by far. I would say it is the worst bar in the city,” Charland said.
He’s hoping there are some serious changes.
“This place continues to be a problem. We have tried and tried to work with them since 2024. We’ve been asking for someone to do something about this bar. We are thankful to hear the DA is stepping up,” Charland said.
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