JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The families of three people shot and killed at a Jacksonville Baymeadows apartment complex filed wrongful death lawsuits Wednesday afternoon, arguing negligence of the property's owner and managers "proximately" caused the victims' deaths.
Kae'Lynn Matthews, 3, Keonte Johnson, 24, and Jaquann Mitchell, 23, were all shot and killed at the JTB Apartments located off A C Skinner Parkway on Sept. 23, 2023.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said a dispute in the common area of the apartment complex led to the shooting. Police told First Coast News at the time of the shooting that five people had traveled to the apartments "possibly to conduct the private sale of a dog."
Witnesses told police they saw two unknown men fleeing the scene of the crime, "possibly in a black sedan" after the shooting occurred. However, nearly one year later, no arrests have been made in the case.
The three lawsuits, filed separately by each victim's family, named Inland Private Capital Corporation and JTB Apartments as defendants.
The victims' families argue the deadly shooting could have been prevented if the apartment complex and the property owners provided proper security.
The lawsuits cite a lack of security gates, security guards and surveillance cameras throughout the complex as reasons the negligence of the property's owner and managers "proximately" led to the death of the Matthews, Johnson and Mitchell.
The lawsuits argue the defendants should have known that "numerous violent criminal acts, including but not limited to, shootings, aggravated assaults, armed batteries and robberies" had occurred at the apartment and nearby areas, and taken steps to provide proper security for its residents, invitees and the public.
The families are asking for $50,000 in damages for each victim in accordance with Florida's wrongful death statute.
The victims' families plan to announce the filing of the lawsuit during a press conference at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Jacksonville Riverfront.
First Coast News reached out to JTB Apartments and Inland Private Capital Corporation after business hours for comment on this story and is waiting to hear back.