Houston, TX - Off-Duty Police Officer Killed and Another Victim Wounded in Shooting at Grotto Ristorante

One Injured and One Off-Duty Police Officer Killed in Shooting at Restaurant

According to Click2Houston.com, one victim was injured and another killed in a shooting at the Grotto Ristorante located at 4715 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77027. 

Houston Police Department officers were called to the restaurant at approximately 5:15 p.m. on Saturday, August 21, 2021, regarding a shooting. Allegedly two suspects driving a silver/grey Nissan Altima approached the patio area of the outdoor dining area and attempted to rob the victims. Despite the victims complying with the demands, one suspect fired shots injuring the two victims. The two suspects drove away from the scene. 

One victim, identified as an off-duty police officer from New Orleans, died on the scene. The other victim suffered critical injuries and was transported to the hospital. 

The Houston Police Department is offering a reward of $10,000 for any information that might lead to the arrest of the suspect. 

Legal Rights of Victims of Restaurant Shootings

Attorney contributor Anjali Nigam, has represented victims of criminal violence and their families in civil lawsuits for years. During an interview, Anjali shared his knowledge regarding the legal rights of victims shot at a restaurant.

“Commercial property owners, such as restaurant owners, have a legal obligation to keep their patrons and staff safe while on their premises. To do this, property owners should provide an adequate level of security. This could include things like surveillance cameras and sufficient lighting. Having the staff trained to identify potential criminal threats would be another example. However, if property owners fail to provide an adequate level of security and a crime, such as a shooting, takes place on the property, they may be held liable for the crime."

"Additionally, the crime should be considered reasonably foreseeable for a victim to have proper grounds for a lawsuit. An example of a reasonably foreseeable crime could be one that occurs on a property where previous violent crimes took place, but the owner did nothing to enhance security measures. If the crime in the area has increased and yet the property's security was not improved, the crime could also be deemed as foreseeable. In either case, the victim and their family should get the advice of an experienced violent crimes attorney.”

Sources:

Click2Houston.com