CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — The family of a 20-year-old man fatally shot inside a Family Dollar store in February has filed a wrongful death lawsuit, alleging the business failed to prevent a pattern of crime that led to his death.
Lem Johnny Johnson IV was killed on Feb. 2 while shopping for toiletries at the Family Dollar on Riverdale Road. His mother dropped him off at the store and waited in the parking lot, not knowing he'd never make it out.
The family's attorney, Ben Keen with Beasley Allen Law Firm, claims inadequate security measures at the store contributed to Johnson's death despite a history of frequent criminal activity on the premises.
“This is about accountability,” Keen said. “Business owners have a responsibility to take action when they know criminal conduct is occurring. The measures in place here were insufficient, and that failure had tragic consequences.”
A Pattern of Crime
The lawsuit alleges the store was plagued by daily burglary attempts, thefts, aggravated assaults, and illegal firearm possession leading up to the shooting.
Despite this, there were no security guards, no signs prohibiting weapons, and staff relied solely on cameras for surveillance.
On the day of the shooting, Johnson entered the store with his girlfriend while his mother waited in the car. Police say Montevious Garrison, 20, approached Johnson inside and opened fire. Johnson died at the scene.
"When Lem went into the store, he was approached by an individual who shouldn't have been there. There should have been measures in place to deter him and keep him from being here, and they failed to do it. While that individual was in that store, he opened fire, and he killed Lem Johnson," Keen said.
Garrison was arrested in June and faces several charge,s including murder.
A Mother's Loss
Johnson’s mother, Sheila Brooks, feels her life has been irreparably changed.
“One of the things she cared most about was spending time with her son during the holidays. Cooking together, enjoying Thanksgiving and Christmas,” Keen said. “She’ll never have that again.”
The lawsuit seeks damages deemed appropriate by a jury and calls on Family Dollar to implement stricter security measures chainwide to prevent future tragedies.
“There should have been measures in place to deter this from happening,” Keen added. “This family hopes no other family has to endure the pain they’re going through.”
Family Dollar has not yet responded to the lawsuit.
11Alive will continue to follow this case and provide updates as the case progresses.
