The Legal Chronicle
Gunfire erupted in a crowded Springfield mall parking lot Saturday afternoon, October 20, 2018, leaving families terrified. Police told ABC 6, “it all started when two groups got into a fight inside the mall. When the fight moved outside, someone opened fire….Moments after the gunfire…children in their Halloween costumes quickly made their way through the mall with their parents; all had their hands up at the order of police.” The horrific incident raises grave questions over mall security around the country.
Shopping mall patrons have a right to feel safe and secure while on premises, whether shopping or walking to their car. A Time Magazine investigation urges shopping mall owners to reduce crime by making security proactive, rather than reactive. Implementing mall parking lots and garages with choke points, license plate readers, surveillance cameras, bright lighting, and security guards may help to reduce crime outside the mall. Inside, overt security guards help to deter crime, while plain-clothes security teams and surveillance cameras monitor suspicious patron behavior.
Shopping Mall Patron Rights
Shopping mall owners have a responsibility to protect patrons legally on the premises from any foreseeable harm. Should they fail in this duty, victims may elect to seek justice and pursue a legal claim for any injuries, sexual assaults or wrongful deaths, which occur as a consequence.