Lawsuit filed against Dollar General over fatal shooting of Black individuals in Florida store

By | December 5, 2023

“Family Members Sue Dollar General Store for Negligence in Fatal Shooting of Black Victims”

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Family members of three Black people fatally shot at a Dollar General store in north Florida by a racist gunman have sued the store’s landlord, operator and security contractor for negligence, claiming lax security led to their loved ones’ deaths.

The 21-year-old gunman had attempted to enter another store and the campus of a historically Black college, but he was stopped by the presence of security guards at both places. The probes by Ryan Palmeter took place in a predominantly Black neighborhood in Jacksonville last August, ending in the fatal assault at the Dollar General.

The lawsuit was filed Monday on behalf of the families of Angela Carr, Jerrald Gallion and A.J. Laguerre.

“While Palmeter was deterred from harming the public at his two preceding stops, at this Dollar General, there was nothing in place to again deter Palmeter from attacking and killing innocent persons,” the families’ lawsuit said.

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Better security measures should have been in place by the store operator and landlord before the shooting last August since the area around the store had seen a rash of shootings, assaults, burglaries, robberies and drug dealing, the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit was filed in state court in Jacksonville. Palmeter killed himself at the scene of the attack, leaving behind racist writings and a suicide note.

The families of the victims also named Palmeter’s estate and his parents as defendants in the lawsuit.

Investigators have said Palmeter made clear in his writings that he hated Black people. During the attack, he texted his father and told him to break into his room and check his computer. There, the father found the note and the writings. The family notified authorities, but by then the shooting had already begun, detectives said.

Palmeter had been involved in a 2016 domestic violence incident that did not lead to an arrest and was involuntarily committed for a 72-hour mental health examination the following year. Palmeter used two guns in the shooting, a Glock handgun and an AR-15-style rifle, according to authorities.

An email seeking comment from Dollar General’s corporate offices was not immediately returned.

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Family members of three Black individuals who were fatally shot at a Dollar General store in north Florida have filed a lawsuit against the store’s landlord, operator, and security contractor. The lawsuit accuses the defendants of negligence, claiming that lax security measures led to the tragic deaths of their loved ones.

The shooting incident occurred last August when a 21-year-old gunman attempted to enter another store and the campus of a historically Black college but was stopped by security guards at both locations. Unfortunately, the Dollar General store lacked adequate security measures, allowing the assailant to carry out the fatal assault.

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of the families of Angela Carr, Jerrald Gallion, and A.J. Laguerre, argues that better security measures should have been in place given the high crime rate in the area surrounding the store. The neighborhood had experienced numerous incidents, including shootings, assaults, burglaries, robberies, and drug dealing.

The legal action was initiated in state court in Jacksonville and also names the gunman’s estate and his parents as defendants. It is worth noting that the assailant took his own life at the scene of the attack, leaving behind racist writings and a suicide note. Investigators have confirmed that his motive was rooted in his hatred towards Black people.

During the attack, the gunman texted his father, instructing him to check his computer. Upon doing so, the father discovered the note and racist writings and promptly notified the authorities. However, by that time, the shooting had already begun.

The gunman had a history of domestic violence in 2016, which did not result in an arrest. In the following year, he was involuntarily committed for a mental health examination. Authorities determined that he used a Glock handgun and an AR-15-style rifle in the shooting.

The families of the victims are seeking justice and accountability for the tragic loss of their loved ones. They argue that had proper security measures been in place, their family members’ lives could have been spared.

Dollar General has not yet responded to the lawsuit or provided a comment on the matter. The case highlights the importance of ensuring adequate security measures in public establishments to prevent such tragic incidents from occurring and to protect the safety of customers and employees alike..

Source

The Associated Press said Racist mass shooting at Florida Dollar General leads to negligence lawsuit

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