Capitol Heights, MD - Roy Batson Accused of Fatally Shooting Two Employees at Gateway Village, a National Church Residence

Two Dead Following Shooting at Senior Living Facility 

According to Fox 5, two employees were killed in a shooting at the Gateway Village located at 505 Suffolk Ave, Capitol Heights, MD 20743. 

At approximately 9:14 a.m. on Friday, October 8, 2021, police responded to a call at a senior living facility in Prince George's County. They arrived to find two of the facility's employees fatally shot. They located 63-year-old Roy Batson lying in a hallway. Batson was a resident at the National Church Residences facility. Allegedly, he and the staff members got into a dispute that led Batson to return to his apartment on the third floor and retrieve a gun. Batson returned and shot and killed the facility's employees before witnesses called the police. 

Batson was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. 

Legal Rights of Victims Shot at a Senior Living Facility

Attorney contributor Aaron Blank is an experienced violent crime attorney who has worked with numerous victims in civil lawsuits. During a recent interview, Mr. Blank shared some of his knowledge on the legal rights of victims shot at a senior living facility.

"Senior living facilities have a legal responsibility to provide a level of protection to their residents and employees. Their top priority should be to implement adequate safety measures on the property. Surveillance cameras, sufficient lighting in and around the property, as well as hired security officers are just some of these preventative measures that should be put in place for the security of the facility. Victims and their families have a legal right to inquire if the facility maintained adequate security measures. Victims and their families may even have reason to pursue a civil lawsuit against the senior living facility owners if their attorney proves the facility did not offer sufficient protection and a crime, such as a shooting, takes place."

"Senior living facilities can be deemed liable if the crime is found to be reasonably foreseeable. If the crime rates were on the rise in the area, and yet the facility failed to increase their security, and a crime takes place, that crime could be considered foreseeable. Victims and their families are heavily encouraged to seek the aid of an experienced violent crime attorney to understand their legal options better."

Sources:

Fox 5