Police are still searching for the gunman suspect in the Del Amo Fashion Center shooting. According to the Los Angeles Times, witnesses claim the gunman opened fire near the food court in the large shopping mall located at 3525 Carson Street in Torrance, CA. The shooting left one man injured and hospitalized.
Authorities say the suspect was not an active shooter, but are still unaware of the motive of the shooting. The shopping mall was evacuated and examined by law enforcement.
Attorney contributor and gun crime lawyer Jason Amala provides his thoughts on the legal options available to victims of criminal violence at locations like shopping malls.
“It is crucial to understand that all commercial property owners have a legal duty to maintain a safe environment on their properties. Shopping mall owners are responsible for protecting their patrons and employees from preventable violent crimes. Property owners must provide adequate security in order to protect their patrons from any reasonably foreseeable dangers”, stated Mr. Amala.
“If a property owner fails to provide adequate security and a foreseeable shooting occurs due to the negligent security, the victims may have grounds for a lawsuit. The shooting may be considered reasonably foreseeable if the property, or its surrounding area, has had prior incidents of violent crime and insufficient security measures were in place”, expressed Mr. Amala.