JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – On the eve of the two-year mark of the Dollar General shooting that left three people dead, the attorney representing the families of two of the victims says new details underscore a troubling pattern of negligence by the company.
Adam Finkel, a partner at The Haggard Law Firm, represents the estates of AJ Laguerre and Jerrald Gallion. He says the case is moving closer to trial next year and that the company has so far tried to avoid accountability.
“Rather than supporting their employees and AJ’s family, Dollar General moved to dismiss the case,” Finkel said. “This store was in an incredibly high-crime area. Employees and customers were surrounded by gunshots. There were repeated calls for security and for help, and Dollar General did nothing.”
Finkel added that while Dollar General publicly expressed condolences after the shooting, its corporate leadership has not shown up for the victims’ families — even as employees continue to share stories of requesting security.
During a recent memorial, employees told Gallion’s family that they had begged supervisors for extra protection.
“They were frightened. They knew something like this could happen, and Dollar General didn’t hire the security that was needed,” Finkel said, noting that the shooter had bypassed two other locations where security was present.
The lawsuit alleges Dollar General profits by placing stores in low-income, high-crime neighborhoods — but fails to take the safety measures needed to protect workers and customers.
“This isn’t just about doing right by AJ’s family or Jerrald’s daughter,” Finkel said. “It’s about making sure that all people who use Dollar General stores can shop in peace and not be at risk of being shot or injured in a completely foreseeable incident.”
Despite the absence of corporate leaders, the Jacksonville community has continued to rally around the victims’ families, Finkel noted, with law enforcement, firefighters, city leaders, and neighbors joining together for memorials.
The trial is expected to begin next year, with the families seeking both justice and changes that could prevent future tragedies.
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