Lawsuits say MARTA was negligent in West Lake shooting

MARTA police patrol the gates at the West Lake MARTA station Friday, April 14, 2017, a day after a shooting on a train left a man death and three people injured.

Credit: JOHN SPINK / AJC

Credit: JOHN SPINK / AJC

MARTA police patrol the gates at the West Lake MARTA station Friday, April 14, 2017, a day after a shooting on a train left a man death and three people injured.

Two lawsuits filed this week claim MARTA was negligent in an April 13 shooting aboard one of its trains.

The incident left one man dead and three people injured. A Clayton County man, Chauncey Lee Daniels, has been charged with murder and aggravated assault in connection with the incident.

According to police, Daniels fatally shot Zachariah Hunnicutt, 38, on a train at the West Lake station. Though police have not divulged a motive, they say Daniels knew and targeted the victim.

Daniels also allegedly shot the other victims. Police say 31 people were on the train at the time of the shooting, and 10 were in the line of fire.

Both lawsuits were filed Wednesday in Fulton County Superior Court. One was filed by Alishha Clopton, Hunnicutt’s wife, the other by Johnesia Cofiled, who was severely injured in the shooting.

The lawsuits name both MARTA and Daniels as defendants. They say MARTA failed to provide adequate security at West Lake station. Among other things, they also say the agency knew of prior criminal activity that created hazardous conditions on the premises and failed to warn patrons.

The lawsuits seek unspecified compensation for personal injuries, pain and suffering and other damages.

MARTA did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the lawsuits.

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