P.J. Harrigan’s Restaurant Reopens, Bar Remains Closed after Shooting

P.J. Harrigan’s, 1450 S. Atherton St., reopened its restaurant on Monday but its bar will remain closed ‘until further notice,’ after a shooting rampage that began there on Thursday night.

‘On behalf of all of us at PJ Harrigan’s, we continue to keep the victims and their families in our thoughts and prayers,’ a post on the restaurant’s Facebook page said. ‘We have been humbled by outpouring of support and concern for our employees.’

A crisis management team was brought in to work with employees on Sunday and Monday, according to the post.

‘We have opened the restaurant and we will be serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The bar will remain closed until further notice. Please continue to keep everyone impacted by this tragedy in your thoughts and prayers,’ the post said.

According to police, 21-year-old Jordan Witmer, of Benner Township, fatally shot Dean Beachy, 62, and Steven Beachy, 19, at about 10:15 p.m on Thursday inside the bar area. The Beachys, a father and son from Millersburg, Ohio, were eating dinner at the time and were in the area for a horse auction in Centre Hall.

Witmer also critically injured 21-year-old Nicole Abrino, his ex-girlfriend with whom he was at the bar for about an hour and 45 minutes before he opened fire. Police said on Friday they had not yet determined what led to the shooting.

After fleeing and crashing his car, Witmer broke into a Tussey Lane home where he shot and killed 82-year-old resident George McCormick before taking his own life.

Abrino was flown to UPMC in Pittsburgh, where she has undergone two surgeries after being shot in the chest.

A vigil for the victims is planned for 4 p.m. on Monday at the Allen Street Gates.

P.J. Harrigan’s bar and restaurant were both closed since Friday.

In a longer Facebook post on Friday, P.J. Harrigan’s representatives said the restaurant would be closed through the weekend and expressed grief and condolences for the victims:

‘The ownership, management and staff of P.J. Harrigan’s Bar and Restaurant wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to the victims and families affected by the senseless act committed last evening.

‘Words cannot fully express how heartbroken and devastated we are by this tragedy. Never before have we experienced any event approaching this level of violence. We will be reaching out to the survivors and their families with offers of support in the very near future.

‘In the meantime, we are cooperating with the police in every way possible, and counseling our employees who witnessed this horrendous event. We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to our fine police and first responders who so promptly rendered aid. We ask that inquiries be directed to the State College Police Department as this remains an active investigation.

‘P.J. Harrigan’s Bar will be closed for the foreseeable future, and our restaurant will be closed until next week. This is a small gesture to honor and show our respect for the victims and their loving families.’