4515 S. Georgia

Semagea Smith, Dequincton Taylor: Justice for Families? Fatally Injured in Amarillo, TX Event Center Shooting; Five Others Injured. (Stock Photo: MurrayLegal.com)

Could the shooting at an Amarillo event center have been prevented and are justice and compensation available to the victims families and injured victims? Read Our Legal Take below to find out what legal options are available.

Local News

Gunfire rang out at an Amarillo, TX event center early Sunday morning, July 9, 2023, leaving two people dead and five others injured.

As reported by NewsChannel10.com, “[a]round 12:54 a.m. Sunday, officers were sent to an events center at a shopping center at 4515 S. Georgia on a shooting with multiple people injured. Officials say when officers arrived, they found there had been a party and a fight broke out among some of the attendees. Sometime during the fight, someone started shooting.”

MyHighPlains.com is reporting, “APD stated that seven people were injured and one died at the scene. Officials said six victims were taken by AMR and private vehicles to emergency rooms. APD also detailed that one victim was pronounced dead at the hospital and the other five are expected to recover from their injuries.”

According to NewsChannel10.com, “[t]he victims who died have been identified as 32-year-old Semagea Smith and 28-year-old Dequincton Taylor.”

The shooting remains under investigation.

Is Justice Available? Our Legal Take

FORMER CLIENT: I had lawyers calling me, and friends telling me who I should hire…I trusted in The Murray Law Firm and I’m glad I did.

Event Center patrons have a right to feel safe and secure while on the premises they are visiting. The level of security provided at the property is of significance, and is a relevant consideration when analyzing whether this shooting may have been prevented. The following questions are also important in assessing whether this incident may have been avoided:

Have prior incidents of violence been reported on or near the property?
Was there security personnel at the property?
Were security measures added after any prior incidents?
Was the property owner or manager aware of any suspicious persons or suspicious activity on the property prior to the shooting?
Have authorities been to the property on prior occasions?
Does the property owner or management have a protocol to check guests for deadly weapons prior to entering the establishment?

Property owners and managers are generally required to protect against foreseeable harm to anyone and everyone legally on the premises. Should the investigation into this incident reveal facts that establish that the property owner or management lacked adequate security to protect its visitors, or engaged in the negligent retention of its security personnel, the families of Semagea Smith and Dequincton Taylor may seek justice and elect to pursue legal claims and substantial compensation for their loss. In addition, any injured victims may seek justice and elect to pursue legal claims and substantial compensation for their injuries.

The Murray Law Firm has extensive and successful experience in handling security negligence claims on behalf of victims and their families, and suggests that an immediate, unbiased inspection and investigation will need to be performed so as to limit evidence from being altered, damaged or destroyed. The complexities of pursuing a negligent security case are well understood by the legal team at The Murray Law Firm, and it is imperative that the families of Semagea Smith and Dequincton Taylor and any injured victims retain a capable law firm who will work without delay to protect their interests.

OUR RESULTS? OVER $125 MILLION IN VERDICTS AND SETTLEMENTS FOR OUR CLIENTS.

The Murray Law Firm has a long history of representing victims of violence and security negligence. We have obtained over $125 Million in verdicts and settlements for our Clients, including:

A $29.25 million dollar verdict for a victim of an unsafe property.
Settlement in excess of $10 million dollars for a victim of gun violence at an apartment complex.
Settlement in excess of $10 million dollars for a family who lost a loved one to gun violence at a commercial property.

We offer our legal assistance, if desired. We represent our Clients on a contingency agreement, which generally means that no fees or payments are owed until and unless we recover. Anyone seeking further information or legal representation is encouraged to contact us via e-mail (click here) or by telephone at 888-842-1616. Consultations are free and confidential.

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DISCLAIMERS: The information contained in this post is from secondary sources and may therefore contain inaccuracies. We will gladly correct or remove this post upon request. The material contained in this post is not intended to constitute legal advice. As each Client is unique, please contact us for a free consultation on your particular case. “Contingent attorneys’ fees” refers only to those fees charged by attorneys for their legal services. Such fees are not permitted in all types of cases. Court costs and other additional expenses of legal action usually must be paid by the client.