It's been a doozy of a year for just about everyone, but this week really went off the rails. Our friend Jay Gabel was shot in the leg during a mugging in Chicago while walking home after donating plasma. This WAS NOT on anyone’s 2025 bingo card.

Jay is a longtime familiar face at the Golden Lantern, who divides his time between New Orleans and Chicago. He is a beloved bartender/barback known for his warm smile, quick wit, and the kind of humor that makes a bad day better.

According to Jay himself: “Yeah. I literally got shot tonight. I’m doing okay, considering I have a bullet in me. It sucks."

Jay saw an opportunity to flee when things started going south, and the guy opened fire into the street. One of the bullets hit him, shattering his leg.

We are all lucky the guy was a terrible shot.

Jay had surgery yesterday (7/30/25) and true to form, he’s taking it all in stride with humor and grace, though doctors say the bullet might have to stay in his leg permanently.

Now he’s facing a long road of healing, major medical bills, missed work, and mobility challenges. Chicago police are still investigating, but the financial toll is immediate.

We’re raising funds to help cover:

If you know Jay, you know he’d never ask for this. But he’s the kind of guy who always shows up for others, and now it’s our turn to show up for him.

Please consider donating and sharing this with your community. Every bit helps.

Read more about the incident here.