Lawsuit Filed by Family of California Man Wrongfully Killed by Walgreens Security Guard

The tragic death of Banko Brown has left many people feeling heartbroken and angry. Brown was a transgender Black man who was fatally shot by a security guard outside a San Francisco Walgreens in May. His family has now taken legal action, filing a wrongful death suit against both the pharmacy chain and the guard involved.

As reported by ABC News, the lawsuit has been filed in San Francisco Superior Court and claims that Michael Earl-Wayne Anthony, the security guard, used excessive force when he shot and killed Brown. The suit also alleges that Kingdom Group Protective Services, the company that hired the security guard, is legally responsible for having hired an “emotionally distressed” individual to work as a security guard.

According to reports, Brown had only entered the store to buy a father’s day card, but the guard allegedly believed he had shoplifted items from the store. Surveillance footage from the store shows that Brown backed away from the security guard and drew no weapon, leading many to believe that Anthony’s use of deadly force was unwarranted.

In response to the killing, Robert Barba, an attorney for the Brown family, commented, “Brown’s death is particularly tragic, given it could have been avoided if Walgreens had exercised greater care in selecting its security vendors and guards.”

Following the incident, Walgreens released a statement expressing its condolences to Brown’s family. However, the statement neglected to mention Anthony by name or address the security guard’s role in the killing. Nonetheless, the lawsuit contends that Walgreens is liable for entrusting security duties to a subpar provider.

Cases such as these shine a spotlight on the frequent wrongdoings committed by security personnel, such as the unwarranted use of excessive force. The wrongful death of Banko Brown serves as a stark reminder that justice must be served in order to ensure that all individuals – regardless of their race, gender identity, or sexual orientation – are treated with respect and held accountable for their actions.