Burlington Township, NJ - Shooting in Walmart Parking Lot Leaves a Man Injured and His Son Dead

One Injured and One Killed During Shooting in Walmart Parking Lot

According to NBC Amanadelphia, a shooting occurred in the Walmart parking lot located at 2106 Mt Holly Rd, Burlington Township, NJ 08016. 

At approximately 10:15 pm on October 7, 2021, police were called to Walmart following gunfire in the parking lot. They arrived to find two victims had been shot. The victims, a teen and his father, were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. The father was released, but the teen suffered fatal injuries and died at the hospital.

Investigators reported that there were four suspects involved in the shooting. They met in the parking lot but began to argue before gunfire reigned across the parking lot. The four have been detained facing charges that may include murder, possession of a weapon, conspiracy to commit robbery, hindering, among others. Many of the suspects had prior criminal charges that ranged from possession of firearms to drug offenses. 

Can I Sue For Being Shot in a Commercial Property Parking Lot?

Attorney contributor Guy D'Andrea is a violent crime attorney representing shooting victims in civil lawsuits in New Jersey. Recently Brian sat down with us to answer if victims can sue for being shot in a commercial property parking lot.

"There is a legal obligation for all commercial property owners to keep their properties safe from preventable dangers, such as shootings. This responsibility is to minimize the risk of patrons and staff suffering avoidable injuries. If a commercial property owner implements proper safety precautions, tragic events like shootings and other violent crimes might not happen."

"Victims and their families may have reasonable grounds to pursue a lawsuit against the shooter, but it is more common to file against a third party for negligence security. If property owners have failed to provide reasonable security measures, they can be liable for a shooting that takes place inside or around their property. Some standard preventable measures include security cameras, proper lighting in the parking lot, and security officers."

"Victims and their families are encouraged to seek the legal advice of an experienced shooting victim attorney to explore the best legal actions for their situation. An attorney may need to prove the crime was foreseeable. A commercial property owner could be deemed responsible if they were aware of an increase in crime on or around the property but neglected to improve their security."

Sources:

NBC Amanadelphia