A Hooters restaurant in Rockville, Maryland, will surrender its liquor license and permanently close its doors after allegedly over-serving the man who fatally struck a Montgomery County police officer, a representative for the restaurant confirmed.
State alcohol regulators accused the restaurant of allowing Luis Gustavo Reluzco to be served alcohol past the point of intoxication Dec. 3.
Moments after getting behind the wheel, Reluzco slammed into Officer Noah Leotta, 24, sideswiping his police car before coming to a stop. Leotta, who had volunteered to work the special holiday drunk-driving patrol, died from his injuries a week later.
Reluzco admitted drinking beer and bourbon for about three hours that night, police said.
Hooters will close Nov. 1 and will not try to sell or transfer the liquor license. The Department of Liquor Control's Board of License Commissioners had scheduled an Aug. 4 show cause hearing to consider revoking the license.
“This situation has clearly had a profound impact on the community, and understandably so," Hooters said in a statement. "We’ve been part of this community for a long time and it has impacted us, too. Therefore, after some reflection and in light of the tragic circumstances, it felt like surrendering the license was the right thing to do.”
Reluzco agreed to plead guilty to vehicular manslaughter in April and faces up to 10 years in prison.
