Four Negligent Security Lawsuits Filed Against Blue Lakes Villas
Posted by
Staff WriterJune 01, 2007 11:54 AMThe families of four victims filed negligent security lawsuits against the owners of the Blue Lakes Villas apartment complex yesterday.
15-year-old Rashad Bosfield was assaulted on January 15, 2007 and died after being shot in a corridor between apartments at the Blue Lakes Villas Complex. Rashad dreamed of becoming a firefighter and enjoyed helping people.
Less than one month later 30-year-old Walter Jackson was also fatally wounded by a gunshot on February 8, 2007 and found dead in front of the same apartment complex. Walter was parent to a 10-year-old daughter and 12-year-old son and worked two jobs (one at a local barber shop and also part-time selling sneakers) so that he could provide for them.
On April 6, 2007, within a time span of two months, 19-year-old Sheila Nieves and her 20-year-old boyfriend Jesse Reyes were shot while innocently sitting in their car in the parking lot of the Blue Lakes Villas apartments. The attacker approached the car as Mr. Reyes was on the phone and shot them point blank. Ms. Nieves suffered a gunshot to the head and died as a result of her injuries. Mr. Reyes was critically wounded by a shot to the head, but survived the attack and has since identified the assailant as Jason Stone. Stone has since been arrested and charged with murder and attempted murder. Stone's girlfriend Lashonda Wilson has also been charged as an accessory to the crime.
Like many apartment complexes across South Florida there are no security guards or perimeter fences at Blue Lakes, and residents say what lights are they never seem to work.The law firm representing the plaintiffs in the Blue Lakes Villas suits earlier this month won a $2 million settlement for a family of University of Miami football star Bryan Patta was shot and killed at his apartment complex in Kendall.
The Haggard Law Firm understands that crime is at the forefront of national and local media, and it is unfortunate that the behavior of landlords at such apartment complexes must be corrected through civil lawsuits. By filing these lawsuits today, The Haggard Law Firm is taking action to ensure that the community at large is protected.