ATLANTA — Five years after two people were killed at a concert in Underground Atlanta, a jury has decided that Sony is partially responsible for their deaths and should pay $160 million, according to attorneys with the Beasley Allen Law Firm.
The DeKalb County jury delivered its verdict on Dec. 15, according to a news release from the law firm, claiming Sony failed to protect concertgoers in the downtown Atlanta venue. The trial also consisted of two previously consolidated cases that were also suing Sony Music Holdings on similar grounds.
The verdict surrounds a deadly 2017 shooting at a concert. A man, who police later identified as 25-year-old Jonathan Bautista, allegedly fired shots into the crowd. Four people were hurt and two of them later died: 22-year-old Giovan Diaz and 21-year-old Ewell Ynoa.
Investigators said Bautista entered Masquerade Club's "Hell" venue in the Kenny's Alley section of Underground Atlanta. It was during a Cousin Stizz set that Bautista fired shots after concert-goers climbed on stage.
PHOTOS | Fatal shooting at Masquerade concert venue
Masquerade, Live Nation and RCA Records were sued after Ynoa's death. RCA Record label falls under Sony Music. Beasley Allen Law Firm filed its wrongful death lawsuit against the label and its parent company in June 2018.
“This verdict represents an incredible day of justice for our clients and for the safety of all people that attend concerts across America,” Parker Miller said Monday in a news release. Miller had been part of the litigation since the firm first filed suit.
The funds are meant to be financial compensation for the victims' families. Read more about Ynoa and Diaz here.
11Alive is working to reach Sony for a comment.