In a stark turn of events following a fatal shooting at a Family Dollar store in Clayton County, the mother of the deceased, Lem Johnny Johnson IV, has taken legal action against the retail chain. According to FOX5 Atlanta, Sheila Brooks, after months of anguish from the loss of her 20-year-old son, who was gunned down while shopping on February 2, 2024, charges in the lawsuit that the store failed to safeguard her son against a well-documented tide of crime at the location.

On the day of the incident, police responded to the Family Dollar at 5425 Riverdale, where they found Johnson with multiple gunshot wounds, as reported by 11Alive. In June, Montevious Garrison was arrested in connection with the murder. Johnson's family asserts that his death was not a random act of violence but a result of the company's negligence, citing repeated burglaries, thefts, assaults, and the presence of illegal firearms at the store. The store has not commented on the allegations at this time.

Ben Keen, representing Brooks through Beasley Allen Law Firm, has called upon the court to hold the company accountable, with FOX5 Atlanta reporting his statement, "This tragic incident could have been prevented with proper security measures." Keen also emphasized the importance of business owners to address known criminal activities within their premises, something Family Dollar allegedly failed to tackle.