Fasig | Brooks Law Offices has filed a civil lawsuit on behalf of the family of Khali Knight, a 23-year-old U.S. Army veteran who was fatally shot on July 17, 2024, at the ReNew Tallahassee apartments in Tallahassee, Florida. The lawsuit, filed in Leon County Circuit Court, names the property owner VA8 Seminole Grand, LLC d/b/a ReNew Tallahassee, property management company Trinity Property Consultants, LLC, and private security company Norwood Holdings, LLC d/b/a Signal of Central Tallahassee as defendants.
The complaint alleges that the defendants were negligent in their duty to provide adequate security measures for residents and guests. According to the lawsuit, the apartment complex had a documented history of prior shooting incidents and violent crimes on and around the premises in recent years. Despite this, the property owner, management company, and security company failed to implement reasonable and necessary safeguards to protect those lawfully on the property.
“Khali Knight’s untimely death was entirely preventable,” said Attorney Ryan Molaghan. “The site of this senseless shooting has been a hotbed for serious violent crime, including several shooting deaths, for years and years. We fully expect the evidence to show that the defendants knew of the propensity for violence to occur on the property and failed to act responsibly to prevent it.”
The lawsuit alleges a litany of failures, including inadequate lighting, insufficient security patrols, lack of proper access controls, and failure to respond appropriately to the known pattern of violent criminal activity at the location. The action further alleges that the contracted security company failed to fulfill its professional obligations, placing residents and visitors at an unreasonable and foreseeable risk of harm.
The involved perpetrator, who was allowed to reside at ReNew Tallahassee at the time of the shooting, pleaded guilty to federal gun and drug offenses related to Knight’s murder and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. While the criminal justice system has delivered a measure of justice, Attorneys Molaghan and Hogan emphasized that the civil case seeks to hold accountable those whose negligence created the dangerous conditions.
“A criminal conviction of the shooter does not absolve those who failed to prevent the violence in the first place from being held accountable,” Molaghan stated. “Property owners and management companies, as well as security companies, have a legal obligation to keep people lawfully on the property safe. Full stop. When they neglect their obligation, it’s time for them to feel the full weight of the law.”
The case highlights the broader issue of negligent security in apartment complexes, particularly those with histories of violent crime. For residents and visitors, the lawsuit underscores the expectation that property owners and managers must take reasonable steps to ensure safety. For the industry, it serves as a reminder of potential liability when known risks are not addressed.
