Posted on Jun 12, 2023

In Kissimmee, Florida, local authorities reported an incident of gunfire at a downtown establishment, leading to one individual being wounded. The incident occurred at Breeze Kissimmee, located at 7 E Dakin Ave, Kissimmee, FL 34741, on the evening of Sunday, June 4, 2023, just before the stroke of 10 pm. The wounded party was safely moved to a nearby hospital with injuries that were severe, but not life-threatening, and subsequently underwent surgery.

Surveillance footage from a business in the vicinity showcased a chaotic scene, as people swiftly vacated Breeze Bar in downtown Kissimmee following the incident. Within moments, the Kissimmee Police Department (KPD) arrived to manage the situation and secure the area.

Angelito Roman, proprietor of the Two Brothers Steakhouse, revealed his establishment was closed at the time, but his son, who was inside cleaning, heard the ruckus. According to Roman, it wasn't an isolated incident, as several similar events have occurred in downtown Kissimmee in the past six months. However, this recent incident has struck a nerve due to its proximity.

Roman also suggested that it might be time to bolster security measures in the downtown area, similar to the approach adopted by fellow business owners in Orlando. He expressed readiness to bear the cost of additional security, especially over the weekends, to ensure a safer downtown area.

Can You Bring a Lawsuit if You’re the Victim of a Shooting at a Restaurant in Florida?

In Florida, victims of shootings at public places such as restaurants may have potential legal recourse under the umbrella of negligent security claims. This subset of premises liability law deals with situations where an individual suffers harm due to a property owner's failure to provide adequate security measures.

Property owners, including restaurants, have a legal duty to ensure reasonable safety for individuals on their premises. This involves protecting patrons from foreseeable harm, which may include violent crime. If a restaurant owner fails to implement sufficient security measures and a patron is injured as a result, such as in a shooting, the owner could potentially be held liable for negligent security.

In determining liability, the court considers whether the crime was foreseeable. This could depend on factors such as the history of similar incidents in the area, explicit threats, or other warning signs. For example, if there has been a pattern of violent incidents at or near the restaurant and the owner did not take reasonable precautions to prevent further incidents, they may be held liable for injuries resulting from a shooting.

It's important to note, however, that these cases can be complex and challenging to prove. The plaintiff must demonstrate that the property owner knew, or should have reasonably known, about the potential for violent crime and failed to take appropriate action. The nature of what constitutes "adequate security measures" can also be subjective and vary based on the specific circumstances of each case.

Victims of shootings in Florida restaurants should consult with an experienced personal injury attorney who handles negligent security cases. These legal professionals can guide victims through the intricacies of the law, help build a strong case, and advocate on their behalf for fair compensation.

Do You Need a Negligent Security Attorney?

If you’ve been the victim of a violent criminal attack on the property of a business, like a hotel, motel, apartment complex, restaurant, gas station, convenience store, or bar, you should speak with an experienced Florida negligent security lawyer as soon as possible because you may be entitled to compensation. You can contact us online or you can call our downtown Orlando, Florida law office at (321) 352-7588 to schedule your consultation.

If you need a South Carolina personal injury lawyer, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at (843) 638-6590. We have at least one lawyer licensed in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. So, if you’ve been injured in the Southeast, we have you covered. Don’t hesitate to call us if you need us.

Disclaimer: Nothing in this article is meant to be a guarantee of results. Past case results do not guarantee future case results. Each case is unique. The information in this article has been gathered from various sources on Google. Thus, we cannot guarantee there are no inaccuracies herein. We can and will correct or remove this post upon request. You can email us at [email protected]. Finally, the information contained in this article is not meant to be legal advice in any way. If you have legal questions, you should contact an attorney.