Secoriea Turner’s family is suing the city of Atlanta for negligence after the child was shot and killed by protesters back on July 4.
The parents of Secoriea Turner, the 8-year-old girl who was shot and killed back on July 4 in Atlanta by “armed protesters at the Wendy’s where Rayshard Brooks was killed three weeks prior,” plan to sue the city of Atlanta. The announcement was made earlier this week by attorneys representing the family in an ante litem, otherwise known as an intent to sue.
In the complaint, the family’s attorneys noted the city of Atlanta made many failings that resulted in the child’s death. For example, the family claims the city was “negligent in its duties by failing to remove armed protesters who had taken over the Wendy’s where Rayshard Brooks was shot and killed.” At the moment, the notice names Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Interim Atlanta Police Chief Rodney Bryant, and Atlanta City Councilmember Joyce Sheperd as defendants.
When commenting on the matter, one of the attorneys representing the family’s, Mawuli Davis, said:
“The councilwoman met with members out there, talked to them, came back to the Mayor, and specifically said she needed more time to try and negotiate with them.”
Once the complaint is officially filed, the family will be seeking $12 million in damages and another $4 million for property damage “and injuries sustained by Turner’s mother and her boyfriend.” The ante litem further states:
“Mayor Bottoms and other city leaders were aware that there had been multiple shootings and assaults in the University Avenue area and that armed persons staffing the makeshift barricade were responsible for most of those acts of violence…Mayor Bottoms and the City officials turned a blind eye and allowed lawlessness, vigilantism, and violence to erode and disrupt the area surrounding the Wendy’s at 125 University Ave. Instead, City officials failed to protect their community, and it was their blatant disregard for the safety and well-being of the City’s inhabitants that led to the shooting death of Secoriea, which was foreseeable and avoidable.”
For those who don’t know, Turner was shot and killed by armed protesters “after her mother and her mother’s friend were driving toward a barricade erected in the middle of the street near the Wendy’s where Brooks was killed.” Davis said, “I know her mother is at her grave-site almost every day…It’s been very, very difficult for them.”
Since the shooting, 19-year-old Julian Conley was apprehended as the guilty party and now faces a felony murder charge. As part of the ante litem, city leaders have 30 days to resolve the case before the family “moves forward with their suit.”
Sources:
Family of Secoriea Turner suing city of Atlanta for $16 million
Secoriea Turner’s family suing City of Atlanta for $16 million
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