San Jose asks court to declare Willow Glen hookah lounge a public nuisance after fatal shooting

San Jose is seeking an injunction against the owners of a Willow Glen hookah lounge where a man was fatally shot in December, accusing the business of illegally operating and creating a public nuisance.

The legal documents filed last week in Santa Clara County Superior Court assert that Puff Puff Pazz, a limited liability company doing business as the 818 Hookah Lounge at 2229 Lincoln Ave., and the officers running the club — Johnathon Elliot and Bethelehem Bekele — did not have valid tobacco retail and alcohol licenses nor a conditional use permit for late night activity.

The city attorney’s office also accused David and Erika Taxin, co-trustees of the trust that owns the property, of renting “to other business(es) that are operating without proper permitting and that have been reported as sites of possible illegal activity.”

“During the illegal operation of the illegal nightclub at 818 Hookah Lounge on Dec. 7, 2025, a fight amongst patrons broke out and a person was shot and killed,” the city attorney’s office stated in its a legal complaint. “Defendants failed to comply with various notices and orders issued by the City of San Jose and continue to engage in and allow illegal activity.”

David Taxin, who relisted the Willow Glen property for lease two days after the city’s court filing, did not return calls for comment.

Police responded to the business on Dec. 7 after reports that gunfire had broken out after an argument, with four victims injured in the shooting, including 25-year-old Elijah Dominguez, who died. The city’s legal filing contends the confrontation involved multiple validated gang members before one suspect opened fire into a crowd.

As of Friday morning, the city had not yet publicly announced any arrests tied to the shooting.

Court documents also shed light on other violent incidents at the club that the city knew about.

In the early hours of April 13, an unknown suspect reportedly punched another person in the face multiple times, causing severe injuries. On other occasions, weapons were reported in the club. In August, another fight broke involved a victim who was struck multiple times in the head, causing severe injuries. Court records revealed that San Jose police responded to each of the incidents and observed alcohol sales, even though the establishment not have a valid liquor license.

The hookah lounge is also within 1,000 feet of Action Day School, Lincoln Glen Park and Willow Glen Community & Senior Center, making it ineligible for a tobacco retail license under state law.

Following the shooting, San Jose police sent multiple correspondence to the Taxins, advising them of the nuisance behavior on their property and then directing them to cease operations of the hookah lounge. The business, however, continued to operate, according to code enforcement.

The city attorney’s office also sent a cease-and-desist letter to all parties. In the legal complaint, the city said David Taxin told code enforcement staff that he believed the business had all the necessary permits.

Code enforcement has issued $6,350 citations to the Taxins, as well as Puff Puff Pazz, LLC and Elliot. The city had not received payment for those citations before the complaint was filed.

San Jose has asked the court to declare the property a public nuisance, to shut down any illegal activity that has continued on the property and to prevent the defendants from operating any other illegal businesses in the city.

San Jose is also seeking the court’s help in collecting the fines and the costs the city has expended investigating the incident through its code enforcement and police departments.

“Plaintiff has no adequate remedy at law in that damages are insufficient to protect the public from the present harm caused by the conditions described in this complaint,” Deputy City Attorney Hannah Odekirk wrote in the filing. “Unless injunctive relief is granted to enjoin defendants’ unlawful and unfair business practices, defendants will continue to engage in violation of the law, and plaintiff will suffer irreparable injury and damage.”