The parents of a teenage murder victim are suing 7-Eleven for negligence after the company allegedly failed to properly train its employees with regard to safety protocols at a downtown Dallas location.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, 17-year-old Omari Frazier was killed in an alleged case of mistaken identity back in April after a fight broke out at the 7-Eleven at 1010 Ross Ave. The ensuing altercation resulted in the wounding of 18-year-old Gayle Jones and the murder of Frazier.
Police said the alleged gunman, 24-year-old Donald Moore, shot the two victims because he thought they had assaulted him at the same location two days earlier.
Moore was arrested on April 12 and charged with murder.
Frazier’s parents filed the suit against the convenience store chain on May 22, claiming the company knew the store was located in a high-crime area but did not take steps to ensure the safety of its employees or customers.
“[7-Eleven] maintained inadequate staffing, training, and security personnel on the property at the time of the shooting,” Frazier’s parents alleged in the lawsuit.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, downtown Dallas has been suffering from rampant crime, significantly more than downtown Fort Worth. The shooting occurred in Dallas City Council District 14, represented by Council Member Paul Ridley.
Murders have been on the rise in Dallas in recent months due in part to a continued shortage in staffing at the Dallas Police Department. The department needs at least 400 more officers to help protect the city, according to Dallas Police Association President Mike Mata, per the Dallas Observer.
As of May 1, there were 95 homicides reported this year, up by more than 20% year over year, according to a DPD report.
More up-to-date information is currently unavailable, allegedly due to a purported ransomware attack on City computer servers, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.