Houston, TX - One Dead, One Injured Following a Shooting at Nightclub on Richmond Avenue

Shooting at Nightclub Leaves One Dead and One Injured

According to the City of Houston News, a shooting occurred at a southwest Houston nightclub located at 9544 Richmond Ave, Houston, TX 77063. 

Just before 6 a.m. on Saturday, September 11, 2021, a shooting was reported at a nightclub in the plaza. Allegedly 28-year-old Abdallah Babiker pulled a gun out of his vehicle just before a fight broke out at the club. The suspect is said to have shot the two victims. One of the victims, a female, died on-site, but the male victim was transported to the hospital for treatment. 

Babiker is facing charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in addition to murder. 

Legal Options of Victims Shot at a Nightclub

Attorney contributor Anjali Nigam is an experienced violent crimes lawyer who works with victims in civil lawsuits. Below, Anjali shared insight on the legal right of victims shot at a nightclub and their families.

"Nightclub owners, by law, have a duty to protect patrons on and around their property from reasonable criminal conduct. To ensure patrons' safety, the owner must protect them from preventable dangers by providing ample security. Prime examples of proper security measures can include security cameras, trained security guards, and proper lighting. If a victim is shot at a nightclub, the victim and their family should inquire if sufficient security was provided. If the nightclub owner did not provide adequate security, the victim and their family might have a claim against the property owner based on negligence."

"However, in order to have a civil lawsuit, the victim's attorney should be able to prove that the crime was reasonably foreseeable. For example, if the crime rates around the nightclub's location were increasing yet, the owner failed to improve their security measures, and a crime occurred, it could be considered foreseeable. In such instances, the owner may be considered negligent and held responsible for victims' injuries. In all negligence cases, the victim is advised to seek counsel from an experienced violent crimes lawyer."

Sources:

City of Houston News