Back in January of 2023 a man entered a Kroger grocery store in Columbus, Ohio and reportedly began a physical altercation with the on-duty security guard. Shots were fired during the fight and the man, Paris Royal was hit and later died in hospital. Police investigated and no charges have been laid to this point but Royal’s mother just initiated a lawsuit.
As security professionals we focus on being prepared to meet the threats and challenges that are most common in our line of work, but we don’t typically think about the consequences we may face in the wake of an incident. In this case, there have been no criminal charges laid against the security guard to this point and most likely there will not be any given this was a simple case to investigate and so much time has passed.
But you can be justified in your actions in terms of criminal liability, and still be sued for civil liability. This topic warrants further discussion but having a personal insurance policy separate from that provided by your employer is the prudent thing to do.
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