Tennessee residents may recall media reports about a nightclub shooting in South Carolina on July 5 that claimed the lives of a security guard and concertgoer and injured eight other people. A 22-year-old man has been charged in connection with the incident and is being held at the Greenville County Detention Center, but the shooting has also given rise to a civil lawsuit. On Aug. 31, media outlets reported that the mother of the 23-year-old man killed during the shooting has filed wrongful death litigation against a long list of defendants including the two hip-hop stars who were performing the night the shots rang out, the company that provided security and the event organizers.
Police say the shooting was gang-related
Deputies from the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office who were posted outside the venue say that they entered the building shortly before 2:00 a.m. when they noticed people fleeing. After entering the nightclub, deputies say they realized that the situation was serious when they heard the sound of gunfire. No arrests were made at the time, but the GCSO quickly determined that the shooting was likely related to a gang dispute of some sort.
Lawsuit alleges lax security measures
The woman who filed the wrongful death lawsuit claims that security on the night of the concert was lax. She says that the tragedy could have been prevented and her son would still be alive if the rappers and their entourages had been searched for weapons when they entered the building. Police believe that the man accused of pulling the trigger was among a group of people who arrived at the venue with the performers.
Establishing liability in civil court
To prevail in a wrongful death lawsuit, the plaintiff must convince the court that their loved one was killed as a direct consequence of the defendant’s failure to meet a duty of care. If you have lost a family member because of the reckless actions of others, an experienced personal injury attorney could gather evidence of negligence by studying police reports and interviewing witnesses. If you decide to pursue a lawsuit, an attorney could seek damages to compensate you for your emotional distress, medical bills, funeral expenses and lost income.
