SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Lawyers representing a woman who was hurt in a shooting that hurt 10 people during a party at Cabana Live in Seminole County gave an update on their lawsuit against the business Friday night.
The lawsuit claims that the woman, Rikita Davis, “experienced immediate bodily injury and resulting pain and suffering” from the shooting.
The suit lists Cabana Live of Sanford LLC, Marinas LLC, Off the Muscle Entertainment LLC and two unidentified men — listed as John Doe 1 and John Doe 2 — all as defendants.
Attorney Ortavia Simon said during the conference that the shooting could have been avoided.
“It was not an event that should have taken place here without the proper steps being taken,” Simon said.
Documents show the woman claims the defendants were negligent in securing the proper permits for the event — which Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma had previously said — and did not have appropriate security for the event.
According to the arrest report, two people began fighting Saturday morning when an uninvolved person, later identified as 16-year-old Christopher Bouie, turned around and opened fire.
“This is an incident that involved a 16-year-old child in an establishment where there is alcohol being served,” Simon said. “Let’s be clear: there should not have been a child in there in the first place.”
Lemma estimates there were 200 people at the ‘Nobody Leaves Sober Pool Party’ on Saturday and said there were 10 armed security guards there.
“When we talk about what actions or what measures law enforcement, or at least security, could have done to prevent this, it’s simple. Make sure that you’re ID’ing the individuals — basic-level measures that are typically implemented,” Simon said. “Make sure the people that are coming in don’t have weapons on them, that there are pat-downs, that they are being wanded.”
Read the lawsuit below:
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