Woman Killed After Confrontation With Security Guard At Ralph’s Supermarket on Hollywood Boulevard

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA (October 5, 2023) – A woman has tragically died after being shot by a security guard following a confrontation at a Hollywood Ralph’s supermarket along Hollywood Boulevard.

Los Angeles County police officials are saying that the incident began around 3:00 p.m. on Monday. A security guard was involved in a shooting with a woman at the Ralph’s supermarket.

The woman shot was allegedly holding a fire extinguisher as she approached the security guard. Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the woman.

She was taken to a Los Angeles County hospital and underwent surgery. Despite those efforts, she was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

A full investigation into the shooting at the Ralph’s grocery store remains ongoing at this time.

 

Liability For Hollywood Security Guard Shootings

More and more stores are turning to hiring security guards as retail crimes have increased. In the last two weeks, Target has closed three stores in the San Francisco Bay Area – citing theft and crime at the stores. In many situations, stores hire security guards that are not particularly well trained. According to Time Magazine, “Twenty-one states don’t require any amount of training for unarmed security officers; according to the National Association of Security Companies. Even in states with requirements, enforcement is difficult because there are so many guards spread out across so many locations and states lack staffing to enforce the rules.” It is common for security guards to encounter situations that they are not prepared for.

• Security guards often encounter suspects that are mentally ill.
• Security guards may have to deal with people under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
• Security guards often have to deal with organized crime and multiple individuals.

Depending on the facts of any case, a company that hired a security guard could be liable if that security guard injured someone. Employers are typically vicariously liable for the actions of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties. Security guards must use reasonable care in order to avoid injuring suspects. When a security guard fails to do this, that could form the basis of a negligence claim. There are many ways that a security guard may have acted wrongfully.

• A security guard may have shot a suspect that did not pose an immediate risk of harm to them or anyone else.
• A security guard may have failed to de-escalate an encounter with a suspect.
• A security guard may have harmed a suspect who was already subdued.

Under the California and Business Professions Code,  security companies must provide their security guard with a minimum of 32 hours of training in the first six months that they are on the job. But this often does not happen. It is important for any person injured by a security guard to know that they do have rights. In particular, the family of any person killed by a security guard may have legal recourse through a wrongful death claim.

 

Getting Legal Help After Hollywood Security Guard Shootings

We at the Sehat Law Firm extend our deepest condolences to the family of the woman killed at this Ralph’s security guard shooting in Hollywood. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. There are many questions that still need to be answered about what happened.

Have you or someone that you care about been injured by the actions of a Los Angeles County security guard? Our team of civil rights advocates are here for you. We care deeply that people are aware of their rights and that security companies are held accountable for their actions. Whether you just have legal questions or are thinking about hiring an attorney we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at  (949) 825-5200.