Family Of Maskless Man Killed By Market Security Guard Sues
LOS ANGELES, CA Oct 6 2020 — A Gardena market, a security guard and his wife are being sued by the children of a Gardena man shot to death while trying to enter the business in July without a mask.
The Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit was originally brought July 21 and an amended version was filed Thursday by the four offspring of 50-year-old Jerry Lewis against Green Farm Market; the security guard, Umeir Hawkins; and his spouse, Sabrina Carter. The wrongful death/negligence suit seeks unspecified damages.
Hawkins has been charged with murder and both he and Carter are accused of being felons in possession of a handgun. They are awaiting a preliminary hearing.
Attorneys for the pair could not be immediately reached for comment.
Lewis was waiting for a tow truck the evening of July 5 and tried to enter the store on Rosecrans Avenue when Hawkins stopped him for not wearing a mask, according to the lawsuit. A fight occurred and Carter intervened by brandishing a handgun at Lewis and other customers, the complaint alleges.
After the fight broke up and Lewis began to leave, Hawkins used his own firearm to shoot Lewis, who was pronounced dead at the scene, the suit alleges.
“Jerry Lewis’s death was senseless and never had to happen at all,” said attorney Michael Parker. “The fight over wearing a mask should have ended, but instead it escalated for no reason into the taking of a human life. Now, the Lewis family has been left without a father.”
The suit also alleges the store negligently hired and supervised Hawkins.
