Delaware Online reports that on Wednesday afternoon a shooting took place at Market Street Grill located at 4304 N Market St
Wilmington, DE 19802. Two customers were shot and then taken to the hospital immediately. Both victims are currently in critical condition.
At this time no information has been released on the shooter except that he took a menu and started shooting at patrons. Charles Johnson, the manager of the restaurant, was not there when the shooting occurred. But he said that he would ask for more police patrols in the area following this event.
As the police continue to investigate this case, Johnson believes that they currently have the security footage from the restaurant.
Attorney contributor Aman Sharma works closely with victims of violent crime in civil cases. We've asked him to share some of his knowledge on the legal options available to restaurant shooting victims and their families:
Business and other property owners are legally obliged to ensure the safety of all of their customers and employees. These property owners must be able to protect their patrons from preventable dangers and to do this they can offer adequate security on or around the premises. Video surveillance and security guards may suffice, but of course there are many other alternatives. When a shooting occurs in or around a place of business, it is important to consider whether or not adequate security was supplied by the property owner. If a store owner failed to include proper security measures on site, property owner negligence may have played a role in the stabbing and the victim could potentially have a grounds for a lawsuit.
In addition to proving inadequate security on the premises, the victim's attorney must also be able to prove that the violent crime committed was reasonably foreseeable. This means that the store owner was made aware of the area's violent history, but did not take necessary precautions. On these grounds, a victim may also have a lawsuit. Ultimately, however, inadequate security circumstances must accompany a reasonably foreseeable crime in order for a property owner to be considered liable.
If you or a loved one has been wounded or killed in a restaurant shooting, we recommend that you contact an experienced attorney immediately. You can learn more about your legal options by reaching out to one of our crime victim attorneys today.