$525 million wrongful death lawsuit to be filed in man's shooting at Hollywood Walgreens
LADERA HEIGHTS, Calif. (FOX 11) - Attorneys for the family of a man shot and killed by a Walgreens security guard in Hollywood announced plans to file a $525 million wrongful death lawsuit against the chain.
Jonathan Hart, 21, was killed Dec. 2 at the Walgreens store on the corner of Sunset and Vine streets.
Police said a store security guard confronted Hart in an alleged shoplifting incident, which then escalated into a physical altercation. At some point, the security guard shot Hart, police said.
Hart was taken to a hospital, where he later died. Police confirmed Hart did not have a weapon.
Attorney Carl Douglas insisted Tuesday during a news conference in Ladera Heights that Hart was not shoplifting. He went on to point out that only some Walgreens locations have armed security guards in the Los Angeles area.
"Each of these stores are in the black, brown and homeless and LGBT communities, and we want to know why,'' Douglas said.
Douglas said he plans to file a lawsuit against Walgreens on behalf of Hart's family seeking $525 million in damages and an explanation about why it has armed guards only at stores in minority communities.
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"I dare say, Jonathan Hart was profiled because he was homeless. He was harassed because he was gay and he was shot because he was black," Douglas said.
Walgreens earlier issued a statement saying, "We're deeply concerned about this incident and the loss of life. We're gathering facts and fully cooperating with law enforcement in the ongoing investigation of the incident. The safety and security of all our customers and employees is our top priority.''
Portions of video used in this story are restricted to the Los Angeles area
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