The family of a man who was shot while riding an Amtrak train in Missouri is suing the transportation company for $100 million.
30-year-old Richie Terell Aaron Jr. was shot on the evening of January 14 while aboard an Amtrak train that was traveling north to Independence. After stopping at the Lee’s Summit station, Aaron was shot by Marquise Webb, 21. Webb also got off of the train at the Lee’s Summit station while Aaron stayed on board as the train continued to its Independence stop.
When the train reached Independence, officers and rescue dispatch arrived at the scene where Aaron was pronounced dead.
According to the Kansas City Star, the lawsuit was filed by Aarons's wife, Breayonna Aaron, on behalf of her late husband and their three children — ages 4,8, and 11. In the lawsuit, the family details that Amtrak failed to respond to the emergency in a reasonable and appropriate manner.
The lawsuit details. “Amtrak negligently failed to timely respond to the emergent circumstances involving Decedent, the shooting, and his injuries and/or failed to stop and render aid and/or failed to timely stop, render aid and/or permit arrival of emergency services to timely attempt life-saving measures on Decedent.”
The lawsuit goes on to explain that Amtrak failed to properly train its staff on how to respond in a life-threatening emergency. The family goes on to accuse the transportation company of failing to put in place a reasonable or adequate amount of safety measures and procedures that could have prevented the death of their loved one and secure the safety of other passengers on board.
Reports indicate that Webb appeared to be on drugs at the time of the shooting. Prior to boarding the train, Webb was involved in a carjacking. Webb was eventually charged with one count of second-degree murder, three counts of armed criminal action, one count of vehicle hijacking, and one count of unlawful use of a weapon.
As a result of the allegations in the complaint, the family is seeking an excess of $100 million in damages to account for lost wages, funeral and burial expenses, deprivation of support, as well as deprivation of companionship.
