Texas Bartender Who Served Man Before He Killed 8 Not Indicted

PLANO, TX — A grand jury in Texas declined to indict a bartender who was facing charges for serving a man who appeared to be drunk at a Plano bar before he went on a killing spree that left eight people dead.

The grand jury in Collin County declined to indict Lindsey Glass for the misdemeanor charge of selling alcohol to certain persons, according to a statement from Glass' attorneys. Glass was charged with violating the state's alcoholic beverage code for serving the man, Spencer Hight, in 2017.

According to news reports from the time, Hight, 32, had a blood alcohol limit that was four times the legal limit in Texas. He drove to his estranged wife's home and fatally shot her and seven others as they gathered to watch a Dallas Cowboys game. Hight was killed by police.

"We want to commend the Collin County District Attorney’s Office for making the decision to present the case to the Collin County Grand Jury," Glass attorneys Palmer and Rebekah Perlstein said in a statement. After hearing evidence from both sides, the grand jury declined to pursue charges against Glass. "We believe that justice has been done," the Perlsteins said.

Glass' attorneys said once she realized Hight was acting strangely, she alerted her manager and they confronted him outside the bar. She also followed Hight and alerted authorities about him.

A former co-worker of Glass' said Hight's behavior was "not completely befuddling in that he was an unusual character." Hight also reportedly pulled out a gun and a knife at some point, according to a news report.

In a report, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission concluded Glass should have known not to serve Hight. Glass was arrested in May.

Below is the full statement from Glass' attorneys:

On September 26, 2019 the Collin County Grand Jury declined to indict Lindsey Glass for the misdemeanor charge of Selling Alcohol to Certain Persons.

We want to commend the Collin County District Attorney’s Office for making the decision to present the case to the Collin County Grand Jury. After hearing from both sides, the Grand Jury no billed the case, indicating that no criminal charges would move forward. We believe that justice has been done.

While Lindsey is relieved by the Grand Jury’s decision, it has been our position from the outset that Spencer Hight’s decision to destroy the lives of eight people was wholly unrelated to the four drinks that Hight consumed at the Local Public House on September 10, 2017. The video evidence that is available indicates that Lindsey was not watching Spencer at all times and that some of the odd behavior that is cited did not take place within her view. Additionally, once Lindsey recognized that Spencer was intoxicated and acting strangely, she alerted her manager and the two confronted him outside the bar. She then took extraordinary steps to follow Hight and alert authorities. Lindsey Glass is a bartender who did what she was supposed to do--she saw something and she said something.

The fact that after nearly 19 months, the Plano Police Department arrested and jailed Lindsey based on these allegations was a last ditch effort to hold someone responsible. Attempting to prosecute those who call the authorities in times of trouble is not what we want from our police departments.

Lindsey was the first person to alert police to Mr. Hight’s presence at the home, and in doing so risked her life trying to do the right thing.