The mother of a man allegedly shot and killed by a Walgreens security guard in December during a scuffle filed suit Thursday against the drug store chain.
Psychesia Hart, mother of Jonathan Hart, brought the complaint in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleging wrongful death, negligence and civil rights violations.
The suit seeks unspecified damages.
A Walgreens representative could not be immediately reached.
The suit states that Hart was shot and killed as he tried to leave the store by Walgreens security guard Donald Ciota on Dec. 2 after the two fought over Ciota's belief Hart was shoplifting.
The suit alleges that Walgreens is liable for Hart's death based on the company's alleged negligence in hiring, training and supervising Ciota. The suit also alleges company policies and training procedures profile and discriminate against People of Color, LGBT community members and homeless people. Hart was black.
The suit also alleges that Hart's civil rights were violated because he was black, gay and homeless.
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"My son was a gentle, loving man who was a community activist within the LGBT and homeless communities," his mother said in a prepared statement.
"His 22nd birthday was this Monday and he should be here celebrating and I should not be grieving and filing a wrongful death lawsuit."
Hart advocated for the rights of everyone and especially those who suffer discrimination and harassment because of their orientation, color and homelessness, his mother said.
