The brother of one of the three victims in the racially motivated 2023 Dollar General shooting in Jacksonville says he has reached a settlement and plans to drop his wrongful-death lawsuit once the agreement is finalized. Quantavious Laguerre, who sued on behalf of his brother, Anolt Joseph “A.J.” Laguerre Jr., has been pressing for accountability from the store and other defendants since the attack. His announcement marks the first publicly reported resolution tied to the families' civil claims from the New Town shooting.
According to First Coast News, Laguerre said on May 29, 2026, that the settlement will lead him to dismiss the complaint filed in Duval County. His attorneys have not disclosed any financial terms, and Laguerre told reporters the deal resolves his family's claims against the defendants named in the case.
Racially Motivated Attack That Shook New Town
On Aug. 26, 2023, a gunman opened fire at the Dollar General in Jacksonville's New Town neighborhood, killing 19-year-old A.J. Laguerre Jr., 29-year-old Jerrald Gallion and 52-year-old Angela Michelle Carr. The shooter died at the scene. The Associated Press reported that authorities deemed the attack racially motivated and that the gunman used weapons bearing racist markings and left writings detailing his motives.
The Family's Lawsuit And Who Was Named
Families of the victims filed wrongful-death and negligence suits in December 2023, targeting Dolgencorp (Dollar General), the store’s security contractor, the property owner and the shooter’s estate and parents, according to reporting by The Tributary. The complaint, brought by attorneys including Ben Crump and Michael Haggard, is available in public court records and argues that inadequate security and prior neighborhood incidents left the location especially vulnerable. The full filing can be viewed on BenCrump.com.
OSHA Probe And Safety Questions
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration opened a fatality-and-catastrophe investigation into the Grand Park Dollar General at 2161 Kings Road after the shooting, and inspection records reflect an expanded review of the workplace fatality. Local reporting and released security footage have raised questions about aisle clutter, blocked sight lines and whether store conditions hampered escape or response efforts. The OSHA inspection record is publicly accessible.
Legal Implications Of The Settlement
A private settlement like Laguerre's typically resolves the named plaintiff’s civil claims against the defendants in that particular suit but does not affect criminal or federal investigations into the attack itself. Local outlets have reported that federal authorities treated the case as a racially motivated act and that any criminal matters tied to the shooter, who died at the scene, are handled separately from the civil cases.
Community Reaction And Aftermath
Families and neighbors have continued to honor the victims with memorials and local initiatives, while Jacksonville schools and organizations have supported scholarships and remembrance efforts in A.J.'s name, as reported by local outlets. Community leaders and some family members have also used civil litigation to push for store safety reforms and broader investment in New Town in the years since the shooting.
Laguerre’s announcement did not include any settlement figures, and his lawyers have not released a breakdown of terms. Dollar General previously said it would support the Jacksonville community and remodel the store after the tragedy, and earlier reporting noted the company did not immediately provide detailed comment to plaintiffs' lawyers. Other family members' suits remain active in Duval County, and those cases will determine whether more civil resolutions follow.
