Family of Man Fatally Shot in Lauderdale Lakes Walmart Files Lawsuit against Retail Giant

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Family of Man Fatally Shot in Lauderdale Lakes Walmart Files Lawsuit Against Retail Giant

In a tragic incident that unfolded at a Walmart store in Lauderdale Lakes last May, a man lost his life while trying to protect a store employee. Now, the family of Thierry Bastian has decided to take legal action against the retail giant, filing a lawsuit claiming negligence on the part of Walmart.

On that fateful day, Bastian was simply doing his grocery shopping when he witnessed an employee, identified as 22-year-old Tironie Shavar Sterling, behaving aggressively towards a female coworker. Sterling, who was off-duty that day, had come to the store to meet with the woman. The situation quickly escalated into an argument, and eventually turned physical.

According to the Broward Sheriff’s Office, Sterling dropped a firearm during the altercation and attempted to snatch the woman’s cell phone. Bastian, showing immense courage, intervened to protect the woman and engaged in a physical fight with Sterling. However, things took a tragic turn when Sterling managed to retrieve the gun and shot Bastian multiple times before fleeing the store.

Bastian was immediately airlifted to the hospital, but unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries. The incident left his girlfriend, Makia Ford, traumatized, as she had been holding their baby and another son during the altercation. Ford expressed her disappointment, stating that no one else had attempted to break up the fight or call for assistance. She believes that Bastian’s intervention saved a life, while Walmart’s lack of security and employee involvement contributed to the tragedy.

The family’s wrongful death lawsuit against Walmart primarily focuses on the issue of negligent security. They argue that had proper security measures been in place, this unfortunate incident could have been prevented. The lawsuit also seeks justice for Bastian’s untimely death and the immense emotional distress suffered by his loved ones.

Meanwhile, Tironie Shavar Sterling has been charged with first-degree murder and armed robbery by sudden snatching. The legal proceedings against him are ongoing.

In response to the lawsuit, Walmart issued a statement expressing their condolences to the family and acknowledging the incident that occurred at their Lauderdale Lakes store. However, they mentioned their policy of not commenting on pending litigation.

As the legal battle unfolds, the family of Thierry Bastian hopes to shed light on the need for improved security and employee training within Walmart stores to prevent such tragic incidents from happening in the future. Their lawsuit serves as a reminder that the safety and well-being of customers and employees should always be a top priority for retail giants like Walmart..