BOTH PLEAD NOT GUILTY
The family of Georgia high school football player Elijah DeWitt say they have filed a lawsuit against the Gwinnett County mall where his shooting death occurred.
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Elijah DeWitt murder: 1 of 2 suspects pleads not guilty; family files lawsuit against mall
By Tyler Fingert and FOX 5 Atlanta Digital Team
Published March 10, 2023
Updated 8:47PM
Family of football star files lawsuit after shooting death at mall
The family of a high school football standout, who was shot and killed outside Sugarloaf Mills Mall in Gwinnett County last year, is now suing the mall and other companies. They are claiming Elijah DeWitt's death could have been prevented.
GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. - The family of Georgia
high school football player Elijah DeWitt say they have filed a lawsuit against the Gwinnett County mall where his shooting death occurred.
The announcement came just after one of the two teenagers accused in the deadly shooting plead not guilty.
Elijah DeWitt's family files lawsuit against mall
Elijah DeWitt’s family is suing
Sugarloaf Mills Mall and several other companies saying his death could have been prevented.
DeWitt’s family says this civil lawsuit is purely about protecting others and making sure Sugarloaf Mills Mall is providing enough security to keep people safe.
"My ultimate goal is that no one feels the pain that we feel every single day," said Dawn DeWitt, Elijah’s mom.
The DeWitt family along with their attorneys filed a civil lawsuit against Sugarloaf Mills, Simon Property Group which owns the mall, Allied Universal which is a security company, and Dave and Buster's.
The suit alleges when DeWitt was killed, security at the mall was lacking.
"They weren't doing enough and they weren't doing what they knew they should be doing based on the severity of the crime previously and that's the whole idea here," said Michael Rafi from Rafi Law Firm. "When you have significant crime in the past, you're on notice, it's going to happen in the future."
The family says this lawsuit is about prompting change and increasing security at the mall. They believe a civil suit is the only way to get it.
"It's not about the money, it's about the change that just needs to happen," said Craig DeWitt, Elijah’s dad.
FOX 5 reached out to the companies named in the lawsuit for their side, but so far we have not heard back.
Teen pleads not guilty to murder of Elijah DeWitt
Teen accused of murdering Georgia football player heading to court
One of the two teenagers accused in the deadly shooting of an 18-year-old Elijah DeWitt outside a Sugarloaf Mills will be back before a judge Friday morning.
The family announced the lawsuit minutes after one of 18-year-old Jefferson High School student and football player's alleged killers faced a judge Friday morning.
Nineteen-year-old Chandler Richardson pled not guilty to the four charges he is facing including murder. His alleged accomplice, 18-year-old Kemare Bryan pled not guilty last month.
Dawn says after Elijah’s death she has a responsibility to do something to save other lives.
"If I did not use that then I would feel like not only did I fail my son Elijah, but I would fail you," she said.
Kemare Bryan and Chandler Richardson (Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office)