BRAYDEN MEDINA MOLINA, A MINOR BY AND THROUGH HIS GUARDIAN AD LITEM, FLAVIO MEDINA GALLEGOS, ET AL. VS TARGET CORPORATION, A CORPORATION, ET AL.

On March 27, 2023, Brayden Molina Medina, a minor, by and through his Guardian ad Litem, Flavio Medina Gallegos; and Teresa Molina Gallegos (collectively, “Plaintiffs”), represented by Robert S. Glassman of Panish Shea Boyle Ravilpudi LLP, filed a personal injury lawsuit against Target Corporation, Watermark Security Group, Inc., Brookfield Properties (USA) LLC, and Does 1-50 (collectively, “Defendants”), seeking damages for alleged negligence. This case was filed in the Los Angeles County Superior Court of the State of California. 

In the complaint, the plaintiffs alleged, “As a L.A. City Councilmember recently and publicly declared, the streets of Los Angeles ‘are the largest psychiatric ward in the United States.’ Downtown Los Angeles (‘DTLA’), in particular, has become overrun with homelessness and violence. Indeed, it has been reported that residents and workers in DTLA fear for their safety every single day. In the heart of DTLA is one of the area’s busiest and popular shopping destinations called FIGat7th located at Figueroa and 7th Street. Its website states ‘FIGat7th is DTLA’s one- stop shopping, dining, and entertainment destination-home to fashion finds, a collection of unique eateries, and a world-class arts and events program.’”

Plaintiffs further alleged, “One of the largest shops at FIGat7th is retail giant Target (‘Subject Property’). And that is where this tragic and terrifying case took place. Despite knowing that DTLA was seeing an uptick in crime and homelessness, as evidenced, in part, by Target employing an armed security guard to keep the store safe, on the evening of November 15, 2022, a deranged homeless man walked freely into the store, grabbed a butcher knife with a 9-inch blade easily off a shelf and proceeded to brutally attack not just one but two customers before he was belatedly shot and killed by the security guard.”

The plaintiffs also alleged, “Further, despite the homeless man repeatedly confronting his first victim, a 9-year- old boy, and telling him that he was going to‘stab and kill’ him, as reported by LAPD Chief Michael Moore, causing the boy to try to escape, neither the armed security guard nor anyone working at the store came to the boy’s (or his mother’s) rescue before it was too late. Shockingly, even after the homeless man brutally stabbed the boy, causing mass hysteria in the store with customers screaming in fear and running away from him, the man was still able to freely walk around the store wielding a large butcher knife before attacking his second victim, a young woman who was located in a completely different part of the store.”

The plaintiffs then alleged, “Again, neither the armed security guard nor anyone working at the store came to her aid before she too was brutally stabbed. The knives at Target were locked behind a display case—a safety measure that should have already been in place before this tragedy occurred. The young boy who was brutally attacked is Plaintiff Brayden Molina Medina. His mother, Plaintiff Teresa Molina Gallegos, was with him at the store and watched in horror as her son lay on the ground, covered in blood and unable to move from the multiple stab wounds.”

Plaintiffs presented three claims for relief, including claims for alleged negligence, premises liability, and negligent infliction of emotional distress. 

In the prayer for relief, the plaintiffs requested an award for general and special damages with pre-judgement interest. 

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