Kealon Gilmore, who was killed in a 2022 outdoor concert shooting in Dallas, with his son.
Courtesy of Daryl K. Washington
Shalonda Gilmore lost her son, Kealon, after he was fatally shot at a 2022 concert in southeast Oak Cliff. When a jury awarded Gilmore’s family and other shooting survivors nearly $76 million in damages Friday, Gilmore said she finally found “some type of peace.”
“This is the only thing that keeping us going because we have some accountability,” she said. “Somebody is accountable for what happened to him at this time.”
Attorneys confirmed that defendants, including event promoter Germaud “Bossman Bubba” Lyons and St. John Missionary Baptist Church, are now responsible to pay Gilmore’s family and six other survivors nearly $76 million in damages.
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But attorney Daryl K. Washington, who represented the Gilmore family, wrote in a statement that it was never about the money.
“It’s about change and ensuring that future events have proper protocols in place to make sure attendees are protected.” he wrote. “This verdict will send a message to those who are planning events and thinking about not adequately protecting the individuals to earn additional profits.”
Plaintiffs alleged that organizers did not properly prepare for the event, putting them and their loved ones in harms way. Gilmore was killed, and sixteen others were injured at the event, after two men fired into the crowd. The two men were later arrested and charged with felony deadly conduct.
Investigators later said that the event, which was attended by about 2,000 people, did not have the proper city permits or emergency plan. Kealon’s father, Kelvin Gilmore, said organizers advertised safety features — like metal detectors and clear-bag policies — which the event did not have in place.
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Related: What we know about the shooting that killed 1, wounded 16 others at a Dallas outdoor concert
“They broke not just our trust and the other families that were devastated by this — but think about all the other thousands of people that were out there,” he said.
Gilmore added he’s grateful the decision will help hold Lyons and St. John’s accountable for their actions.
“It doesn’t resolve the issue, but it surely lets us know that there is true justice out there,” he said.
Lyons could not be reached for comment on the verdict.
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Attorney Jeff Hall, who represents St. John’s, said the church did not authorize the event, nor did leadership “authorize anyone to come on to the land for the event.” While the concert did not take place in the church, organizers used land the church owned over 9 miles from the sanctuary.
“What what happened out there was a terrible tragedy, and St. John sympathizes deeply with the survivors and the families who have suffered injuries and loss of life,” he said.
Kealon’s parents described their son as a smart, humble young man who was devoted to his family. He left behind a young son, who they are now helping raise.
“We will do our best to surely stay in his life and keep the memory of Kealon going, so that he will know who his father is and who his father was,” Kelvin said.
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Shalonda said her grandson is the “only part of Kealon that we have left,” adding that she and Kelvin will work together to keep their son’s memory alive in his life.
“Just because his dad is gone doesn’t mean we can’t be around,” she said. “He’s going to continue to be in our life, and we’re going to continue to provide for him and still be there for him, even when he’s older.”