Rockford, IL - Two Students Shot in Auburn High School Parking Lot

Two High School Students Shot in Campus Parking Lot

WREX has reported that a shooting occurred in the parking lot of Auburn High School located at 5110 Auburn St, Rockford, IL 61101. 

Just after 1 p.m. on Tuesday, January 4, 2022, two high school students were shot while in a car parked in the high school parking lot. The students, a 17-year-old boy, and a 17-year-old girl, were treated for non-life-threatening injuries. 

Police have at least three of the suspects in custody and recovered two guns believed to have been used in the shooting. They say one other suspect fled the scene in a car. 

Legal Recourse for Shooting Victims and Their Families

Attorney contributor Brian Kent represents victims and their families in private civil court cases. As an experienced school shooting victim attorney, he has shared his insight regarding civil cases and the legal options that help victims of school shootings get justice. 

"Schools are legally responsible for providing a safe environment for their students and staff. Certain security measures should be maintained according to the state's premises liability laws. Schools should have parking lots with sufficient lighting, video surveillance cameras, and on-site officers as a part of their safety plan. If a school fails to offer these, they could be considered negligent and held liable in a lawsuit."

"Victims can hire a civil litigation lawyer to help prove the school acted negligently, thus allowing the incident to take place. A reasonably foreseeable shooting occurs when a school fails to provide adequate security despite knowing of an increase in criminal activity in the area. By failing to increase their security to reduce the risk of crime on the school campus, the school may be deemed negligent. In cases of school security negligence, victims injured in shootings in the school parking lot may be awarded compensation available through the court after filing a civil case."

Sources:

WREX