A shooting in a Slidell parking lot last month left a teenager injured and several nearby vehicles struck by stray gunfire. Incidents like this raise a question many people don’t consider until it happens to them: when a business’s parking lot becomes the scene of violence, does the property owner bear any responsibility for what happened?
What Happened in Slidell
According to Slidell Police, officers responded to multiple 911 calls reporting gunfire in a McDonald’s parking lot on Voters Road on a Friday afternoon. A 17-year-old was struck with a graze wound to the head and was treated at a local hospital before being released. Police said the shooting stemmed from what they described as a failed drug deal involving a group of teenagers, and several parked cars in the area were also hit by bullets, according to reporting from WWL-TV.
The interim police chief called the incident reckless, noting that innocent bystanders and their property were caught in the crossfire even though they had no connection to the dispute. That’s the reality of gun violence on commercial property. It rarely stays contained to the people directly involved.
Criminal Charges Don’t Cover Civil Injuries
It’s worth understanding that a criminal prosecution and a personal injury claim are two entirely separate processes. Prosecutors pursue charges against the shooters to hold them accountable under criminal law. But criminal charges don’t compensate a victim for medical bills, lost wages, or the emotional toll of being shot or caught in the middle of gunfire.
A separate civil claim is often the only path to actual financial recovery, and it can proceed independently of, and sometimes long after, any criminal case concludes.
When a Business Can Be Held Responsible
Louisiana law recognizes a legal concept called negligent security. Property owners, including retail businesses and restaurants, have a duty to take reasonable steps to protect people on their premises from foreseeable criminal acts. Whether a business can be held liable depends heavily on the specific facts.
Some of the factors that typically come into play include:
- Whether similar violent incidents had occurred at that location before
- Whether the property had adequate lighting, security cameras, or visible security personnel
- Whether staff followed reasonable safety protocols when trouble began
- Whether the business took any corrective action after prior complaints or incidents
If a location has a documented history of altercations or violence and the property owner failed to respond with reasonable safety measures, injured bystanders may have grounds for a claim against the business itself, separate from any claim against the individuals who fired the shots.
What Victims Should Do After a Shooting
Anyone injured, or whose property was damaged, in an incident like this should seek medical treatment immediately, even for injuries that seem minor at first. Photos of the scene, medical records, and witness contact information can all become important later, particularly since police reports focus on the criminal investigation rather than a victim’s losses.
It also helps to request a copy of the police report once it becomes available and to keep records of every expense connected to the incident, from ambulance bills to lost income during recovery.
Being an innocent bystander to a violent crime is traumatic enough without also facing mounting medical bills. At Kiefer & Kiefer, we help victims of violent crime understand whether a property owner’s negligence contributed to their injuries and what compensation may be available.
If you or a loved one was injured, or had property damaged, during a shooting or other violent incident in the Slidell area, it’s worth having your situation reviewed by a Slidell, LA personal injury lawyer. Reach out to discuss what happened and what steps make sense for your case.
