Martin's not negligent in double fatal shooting at Elkhart store
See Also
- Estate of Martin's shooting victim suing for damages
- Martin's releases statement, one-year anniversary of Elkhart shootings
- Officers involved in Martin's shooting honored by the City of Elkhart
- Martin's shooting: Officers cleared, new details revealed
- Friends, coworkers pay respect to Martin's shooting victims
- Police release details of Martin's shooting
- 3 dead at Martin's Super Market in Elkhart, suspect identified
Rachelle's estate sued Martin's for damages for failing to protect Godfread from the active shooter. The lawsuit was filed in January 2016.
On the evening of January 15, 2014, investigators say Shawn Bair walked around the Martin's store for approximately 40 minutes, then shot and killed employee Krystle Dikes and then 64 seconds later, shot and killed customer Rachelle Godfread.
Bair turned the gun on himself as Elkhart Police fired at him.
Godfread's estate alleged Martin's failed to inspect and monitor the store for dangers, and failed to warn Godfread of the active shooter. The estate sued for damages and other costs associated with the lawsuit.
The judge stated in his ruling since the facts of the case are not in dispute, summary judgment would be appropriate.
The judge ruled based on controlling precedent, Martin's had no duty to protect Godfread from being shot, and granted Martin's motion for summary judgment.
The judge wrote in his ruling, "If a shooting at a 'neighborhood bar' is not foreseeable as a matter of law, a shooting at a supermarket cannot be foreseeable as a matter of law either. If anything, a shooting at a supermarket is even less foreseeable than a shooting at a 'neighborhood bar.'"
The estate's motion for summary judgment was denied.