The Legal Herald
(CBS Baltimore)
Strip Mall Security Failure? Our Legal Take: 10-Year Old Shot Frankford Plaza Shopping Center, Baltimore
Local News
The east Baltimore community is seeking answers and justice following the shooting of a 10-year-old boy outside a Family Dollar store in the Frankford Plaza strip mall Friday night, January 15, 2016.
CBS Baltimore reports, the 10-year-old boy and his 12-year-old brother were caught in crossfire as they walked from their mother’s car into the Family Dollar to pick up juice. The young, innocent bystanders apparently ran into the Family Dollar for cover, where the 10-year-old victim realized he’d been shot in the arm. He was transported to Johns Hopkins for treatment. His current condition has not been released.
Local residents and authorities are calling for an end to the violence and outraged that a child was injured in this latest shopping plaza shooting. “When a child is walking into a store, he should not be in fear that someone is going to fire erratic rounds and one might hit him” said Baltimore Police spokesperson, T.J. Smith.
Per CBS Baltimore reports, the shooting is “one of many that occurred at Frankford Plaza, including [a] 34-year-old [man], who was gunned down back in December.”
Our Legal Take
Shopping center patrons have a right to be safe and secure while on the premises of the establishment that they are visiting. Given the reported history of violence at the Frankford Plaza shopping center, The Murray Law Firm questions the level of security provided to store and parking lot patrons and whether this unconscionable shooting may have been prevented.
- What parking lot security measures, such as bright lighting, surveillance cameras and security patrols, were in place to protect patrons and deter crime?
- Were any additional security precautions implemented by the Family Dollar or Frankford Plaza owners, following previous reports of violence on property?
Generally, shopping center owners and managers are required to protect all patrons legally on the premises from any foreseeable harm. Should the facts of this matter reveal that the owner or management failed to provide adequate security to protect those on its premises, the young victim and his family may elect to seek justice and pursue a legal claim for his injuries.
Given the complexities of pursuing a negligent security case, it is imperative that the victim’s family retain an experienced attorney who can ensure the preservation of any and all evidence that may support such a claim. Based upon its prior experience in handling property security negligence claims, The Murray Law Firm suggests that photographs and a thorough, unbiased inspection of the property will need to be performed immediately, before any evidence may be repaired, damaged or destroyed.
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The Murray Law Firm has an extensive and successful record representing victims of violence and security negligence. We have recovered millions of dollars for our Clients, and we recently obtained a $29.25 million dollar verdict for a victim of an unsafe property. We offer our legal assistance, if desired.
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