The Legal Chronicle
Update: Melissa Williams Identified as Victim Killed in Lakewood, WA Apartment Home Invasion. (Stock Photo: Murray Legal.com)
Did negligent security contribute to the home invasion and shooting death at a Lakewood apartment complex and are justice and compensation available to the victim’s family? Read Our Legal Take below to find out what legal options are available.
LOCAL NEWS
Update: KIRO7.com has identified the victim in a Lakewood, Washington Apartment home invasion robbery as “36-year-old Melissa Williams.”
A woman was reportedly shot and killed during an attempted home invasion at a Lakewood, Washington apartment complex early Tuesday morning, February 11, 2020.
As reported by KomoNews.com, “[o]fficers were called to the Union Crest Apartments in the 14900 block of Union Avenue just after 1 a.m. after receiving a report from the victim’s father that his daughter had just been shot during a robbery inside the apartment.”
According to the report, “Medics and police arrived to find a 36-year-old woman dead from a gunshot wound to the head.”
Q13Fox.com is reporting “[the] father said two men entered the apartment to rob the people inside…[o]ne of the suspects with a gun was in the father’s room, while the other man was in another room with his daughter, he told police.”
According to the media reports, “[b]oth gunmen ran off after the shooting and stealing electronics from the home.”
The investigation is ongoing.
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.
Residents and guests of apartment complexes have a right to feel safe and secure while on the premises. The level of security provided at the apartment complex 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:
- What security measures were in place to deter crime and protect the victim at the time of the shooting?
- Have there been prior incidents of violence on the property, and were any security measures added after any prior incidents?
- Was the complex aware of any suspicious persons or suspicious activity on the property prior to the shooting?
Property owners 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 apartment complex owner or management lacked adequate security to protect its residents and visitors, Melissa Williams’s family may seek justice and elect to pursue legal claims and substantial compensation for their loss.
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 of the property 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 Melissa Williams’s family retain a capable law firm who will work without delay to protect their interests.
OUR RESULTS: OVER $100 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 $100 Million in verdicts and settlements for our Clients, including a $29.25 million dollar verdict for a victim of an unsafe 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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