Destin, FL - Jerrish Stephens Arrested For Allegedly Fatally Stabbing a Man at Lucky’s Rotten Apple

Stabbing at Florida Bar Leaves One Dead

According to Northwest Florida Daily News, a man was fatally stabbed outside of Lucky’s Rotten Apple located at 205 Mountain Dr, Destin, FL 32541. 

Police responded to a stabbing at the bar at around 1 a.m. early Wednesday, December 15, 2021. They found a man with a severe laceration to his neck in the parking lot when they arrived. Despite medical measures made by the deputy, the victim died at the scene. 

The suspect, Jerrish Stephens, was apprehended later, and a search found the knife used to kill the victim. Investigators believe that a fight between two women sparked the incident. All four bar patrons were seen exiting the club together. Surveillance footage showed the women fighting and the suspect striking the victim multiple times before he fell to the ground. 

Can Bar Owners Be Liable For Stabbings?

Attorney contributor Michael Haggard represents bar stabbing victims in civil lawsuits. As an experienced stabbing victim lawyer, Michael has shared when a bar owner can be held liable for stabbings. 

"Bars, lounges, and nightclubs have high rates of violent crime. These owners should do everything they can to keep their bars secure and their patrons reasonably safe from preventable violence, such as stabbings. To achieve this, they might hire trained security, install security cameras, and have ample outdoor lighting. These security measures minimize the occurrence of crime on the bar's property. Failing to offer sufficient security could cause a bar owner to be liable for stabbing injuries and deaths." 

"There are many times that bar stabbings could have been prevented if security was not neglected. For example, if the bar had previous incidents of violence but failed to provide improvements to its security, the bar owner could be considered negligent. In cases of negligence, bar violence victims and their families may have grounds for a civil lawsuit. By hiring an experienced stabbing victim lawyer, victims and their families may even be entitled to financial compensation. This compensation can help cover the costs of medical expenses and even funeral expenses."

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