Updated: 3/6/2009 7:45:10 PM
The lawyer for one of the victims of a shooting outside Markman's Jewelry Store says a baby was in the victims' car, and may have been the focus of the confrontation with a security guard.
On March 1st, investigators say 21 year old Kevin Bowman and 18 year old Elizabeth Day were arguing in the parking lot of Markman's Jewelry Store in West Knoxville. 63 year old Jessie Walker was working security at Markman's. Officers say he shot both of them. Walker has not been charged, but is on leave from Vinson's Guard Service.
On Thursday, attorney T. Scott Jones filed a $70 million lawsuit on behalf of Kevin Bowman. The suit says Walker shot the couple without provovation, and that neither of the two made any threatening actions towards Walker. It claims Walker was grossly negligent for firing his weapon at an unarmed person without proper cause.
The suit goes on to say Vinson Guard Service and Markman's are liable, because they hired Walker, and failed to properly train and supervise him.
The suit says that Bowman sustained life-threatening injuries in the shooting, that may included permanent paralysis. UT Medical Center is not releasing current conditions on either shooting victim.
On Friday, Jones gave additional details about his version of events during an appearance on Ten News at Five. Jones says the situation escalated when the security guard confronted a friend of the couple, who was in their car with her baby.
"He felt it incumbent upon himself to question her as to if that was her child or not," said Jones.
"He told her that she had to prove it was her child before he was going to let anybody leave."
When the group tried to leave, Jones says, the guard grabbed Day and then shot her and Bowman.
Jones also filed Additional filings regarding guard's past today alleging violent incidents in the guard's past.
The suit is seeking $20 million dollars for compensatory damage, which will include paying for lifelong medical care, and $50 million dollars in punitive damages.
