Fort Lauderdale, Florida - 1 Killed, 2 Injured in Bar Shooting at Blue Martini

Suspect Arrested After Fatal Shooting at Blue Martini in Fort Lauderdale

Two people were injured and one was killed during a shooting at a bar called Blue Martini in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday night.

Officers responded to reports of shots fired inside of the bar at the Galleria mall at around 11:51 p.m. on Wednesday. Three people were shot. One died at the scene and the other two victims were transported to a nearby hospital. One of the two injured was listed in critical condition.

An unidentified suspect is in custody in Broward County. Police believe that the shooting happened as a result of an altercation inside the bar.

Legal Options for Bar Shooting Victims and Their Families

Attorney contributor Michael Haggard represents bar shooting victims and their families in civil lawsuits and has offered to share some thoughts on the legal options available to these families:

When a shooting happens at a bar or nightclub, it's important to determine who the shooter was and if the shooting could have been prevented. Bar owners are responsible for keeping their properties reasonably safe, and adequate security measures are an important part of this responsibility. But some bar shootings are preventable and only happen due to inadequate security.

For example, a shooting might be considered reasonably foreseeable and preventable if there had been a history of violence at the bar, but no security improvements were made. In cases where the shooting is deemed reasonably foreseeable, the bar owner could be considered negligent and the victims could have grounds for a lawsuit.

Bar owner liability for shootings is complex. If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a bar or nightclub shooting, you can learn more about your family's legal options by speaking with an experienced crime victim attorney.