Family sues Refresco Beverages over shooting death of father of 5 at Fort Worth plant
A family is suing Refresco Beverages and its location in Fort Worth, alleging the company’s lack of security led to the shooting death of an employee by a teenager who flew into DFW Airport and appeared to target victims at random.
The wrongful death lawsuit was filed in a Tarrant County district court on Aug. 7. Lee Douglas’ family is seeking damages in excess of $1 million.
Douglas, a 36-year-old father of five, died June 11 at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth. His death came about two weeks after he was shot on the early morning of May 30 outside of his workplace, Refresco Beverages at 15200 Trinity Blvd, according to Fort Worth police.
The victim, who was employed at the company as an electrician, was walking to his car that morning when he was shot twice, according to his family and an autopsy. He was struck in his back and in his face.
Police initially said his injuries were not believed to be life-threatening, but he died due to complications from the gunshot wounds, according to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The suspect, 18-year-old Decan Medeiros, of Kettle Falls, Washington, is accused of shooting Douglas and firing at three other men nearby. He initially was arrested on four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Medeiros was charged with murder after Douglas’ death.
The suit says Refresco Beverages did not have 24-hour security on its premises, unlike neighboring businesses, such as Oncor.
These nearby businesses recognized the dangers in the area whereas Refresco Beverages was neglectful in taking similar precautions, according to a news release from The Law Offices of Blerim Elmazi, which is representing Douglas’ family.
The company’s lack of security measures such as security personnel and adequate lighting — including during night shifts — left the premises “vulnerable to unauthorized access and criminal activities,” the suit says.
The suit further alleges the lack of security “demonstrated a disregard for the safety and well-being of its employees,” and contributed to the shooting that killed Douglas.
“Lee Douglas’ death was not just a tragic incident; it was preventable,” the family’s attorney, Blerim Elmazi, said in the release. “Refresco had a duty to protect its employees, and their failure to do so led directly to this devastating loss.”
The company denied all allegations and demanded a trial, according to a response filed with the court on Tuesday.
Refresco Beverages has not yet responded to the Star-Telegram’s request for comment.
