During a press conference on Friday morning, the family of Elijah DeWitt, a football star at Jefferson High School, announced their intention to file a lawsuit against Sugarloaf Mills, Simon Property Group, Allied Universal and Dave & Buster’s. The attorneys representing DeWitt’s parents cited the groups’ failure to provide adequate security despite knowing that the property was a dangerous location.
DeWitt’s father, Craig DeWitt, expressed his concern about the lack of security measures at Sugarloaf Mills Mall. He recounted a conversation he had with someone who lives near the mall who claimed that the area has been problematic for some time. DeWitt believes that more security measures need to be put in place to prevent further tragedies like the one that took his son’s life.
Meanwhile, DeWitt’s mother, Dawn DeWitt, emphasized that her ultimate goal is to ensure that no other parent has to endure the pain of losing a child to gun violence. She wants to make sure that no one else receives a call informing them that their child has been shot and will not be coming home.
Elijah DeWitt was killed in the parking lot of Sugarloaf Mills Mall outside of Dave & Buster’s on October 5th, 2022. Two teens, Chandler Zion Richardson and Kemare Bryan, were indicted by a grand jury on charges of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Richardson was arraigned on Friday morning and pleaded not guilty to four charges, including felony murder and malice murder. Bryan also pleaded not guilty in the case.
The DeWitt family’s lawsuit is an effort to ensure that the owners of the mall and the other entities mentioned are held accountable for their lack of proper security measures. It is their hope that this tragedy will serve as a catalyst for change, leading to increased safety measures and a decrease in gun violence.
