Father of man killed in Penn Hills hookah lounge shooting files wrongful death lawsuit

The father of a man shot and killed last year at the Ballers Hookah Lounge and Cigar Bar in Penn Hills is suing the business and its operators.

The plaintiffs — Nathaniel Smiley Sr., whose son, Nathaniel Smiley Jr., was killed, and Earon Chambers, who was wounded — filed the complaint Tuesday in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court.

It names as defendants the Hookah Lounge on Laketon Road, as well as Bucci Ventura Mullen LLC, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, armed security guard Chaz Jackson, and club operators Romonda Massey and Dexter Washington.

Jackon’s lawyer, Frank Walker, said he had not seen the lawsuit yet. The attorney for Bucci Ventura Mullen declined to comment.

The lawyer for Berkshire Hathaway did not immediately return a message seeking comment. Attempts to reach Massey and Washington were unsuccessful.

According to the lawsuit, the Hookah Lounge was operating as a bar and strip club without a liquor license and in violation of state and local laws when a shooting last year killed two and wounded seven.

In the early morning hours of June 2, 2024, the lawsuit said, gunfire erupted between Jackson and unknown assailants.

Smiley Jr., 44, and Stephanie Stuart, 28, of McKeesport were killed.

Allegheny County Police said at the time there were more than 100 people inside the bar that night, and at least two people fired as many as seven to 10 shots.

Jackson, 43, is charged with criminal homicide in Stuart’s death, and his trial is scheduled for Aug. 25.

Police believe someone else killed Smiley.

At a preliminary hearing last year, police testified that Jackson’s ammunition matched the bullet that struck Stuart, as well as a second victim.

Another detective testified that Jackson told officers that he saw a car parked illegally outside the bar that morning, and when he went to alert the owner, he heard gunshots.

Jackson then told investigators he pulled out his gun, but was knocked down in the rush of people trying to get away. Jackson said his gun went off as he fell.

The lawsuit filed Tuesday alleges the defendants had notice of the potential for danger at the lounge given the illegal alcohol served there and lack of adequate security.

The lawsuit includes claims for wrongful death and negligence.

A previous lawsuit, filed by Steven Stuart on behalf of his daughter who was killed at the club, is still pending in Allegheny County.

“Stephanie Stuart had nothing to do with the argument and did not know either Nathaniel Smiley or Chaz Jackson,” the complaint said. “She was an innocent bystander.”

The Stuart lawsuit, filed last July, alleged that Ballers openly advertised itself as a strip club on Facebook.

In addition, that complaint said that police had been called to the club twice for shootings in the weeks leading up to June 2.

The club was closed in September following a cease-and-desist order from Penn Hills code enforcement.