Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed After Deadly Dollar Store Shooting

On the evening of February 2, 2024, Lem Johnny Johnson IV, a 20-year-old, was tragically shot at the Family Dollar on Riverdale Road. Johnson was dropped off at the store by his mother, Sheila Brooks. Moments after entering, gunfire erupted, and Johnson was found on the store’s floor with multiple gunshot wounds.

The Filing

Beasley Allen’s Ben Keen has filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Clayton County on behalf of Sheila Brooks. The lawsuit claims that Family Dollar was aware of the risk of criminal acts on their premises but failed to take necessary precautions. It alleges that the store had substantial notice of the foreseeable risk of third-party criminal acts but did not take reasonable steps to guard against such dangers. As a result, Johnson suffered catastrophic injuries and an untimely death.

Foreseeability & Negligence

Premises liability holds property owners responsible for ensuring their premises are safe for visitors. The owner can be held liable if someone gets injured because the property wasn’t maintained properly. This responsibility includes preventing foreseeable dangers, such as criminal acts.

The lawsuit emphasizes that despite the foreseeability of the incident and prior awareness of violent criminal activity at the premises, Family Dollar did not take reasonable measures to protect their customers’ health, safety, and welfare.

Legal and Moral Obligations

We are committed to seeking justice for Johnson’s family and all those who have fallen victim to premises liability and negligent security. So many tragic incidents could be prevented with proper security measures.

At Beasley Allen, we work hard to ensure that those responsible for wrongdoings are held accountable and to prevent similar tragedies from happening again. We are committed to seeking justice and believe it’s important to create safer environments for everyone. By tackling these problems directly, we hope to provide help and closure to the victims and their families while also pushing for changes that improve safety and prevent future harm.