Target Worker Thought DTLA Stabber Was a Thief: Court Documents

LOS ANGELES, CA — A Target Corp. employee who was the first store worker to confront a man who stabbed a boy and a woman in a downtown shopping center in 2022 initially thought the perpetrator was a thief, according to the retail giant's new court papers in a lawsuit it's facing.

The stabbings occurred Nov. 15, 2022, at the FIGat7th shopping center shortly after 6:20 p.m. The victims were later identified as Brayden Medina Molina, then 9 years old, and Joo Hye Song, then 24. Both sued Target Corp., landlord FIGat7th LLC and other entities, and their suits have been consolidated.

Like other defendants named, Target is asking Judge Judge Anne Hwang, in court papers brought July 3, to dismiss the part of the case against them on grounds the attacks were unforeseeable. The causes of action pertaining to Target are negligence, premises liability and negligent infliction of emotional distress.

"While Target is sympathetic to plaintiffs, it is not responsible for the unforeseeable, unprecedented criminal action of an unstable and deranged third party," the Target lawyers maintain in their court papers. "This is especially so in light of the fact that Target went to great lengths to deter crime by having an armed and uniformed security guard present and responding to the incident in such a manner that the assailant was (shot to death) just four minutes after entering the store by that very guard."

The Target attorneys also state that as events unraveled that evening, they initially appeared to involve a petty theft. The lawyers state that shortly after the stabber, David Franklin, entered the store, an employee saw that he was trying to open a package of knives. The worker, familiar with people opening packages as part of a theft, believed he was trying to steal a knife, but did not believe he was a danger to anyone and told him to pay for it, the Target lawyers state in their court papers.

When Franklin ignored the worker, she quickly contacted the asset protection team by radio and a member of the squad, after failing to de- escalate the situation, warned guests to leave because Franklin was armed and shouting profanities, the Target lawyers further state in their pleadings.

The asset protection team member witnessed Franklin stab Song, the second victim, according to the Target lawyers' court papers, which further state that Enedino Espinoza, a security guard contracted to work within the store, ultimately shot and "immobilized" Franklin.

"Incredibly, the entire incident, from Franklin's entry into the store to the time to the time he was shot ... spanned approximately four minutes," the Target lawyers further state in their court papers.

"In spite of a thorough police investigation, no motive has been established for Franklin's stabbings," the Target attorneys state in their court papers in further arguing that the stabbings were not predictable in a store that had never seen similar violence in more than 10 years since opening. "Likely, there was none. Franklin was deranged and did not appear to be in the right state of mind during the incident."

A hearing on Target's dismissal motion is scheduled for Sept. 17.

Espinoza worked for Watermark Security Group Inc., the guest safety firm hired by Target. Espinoza has filed a separate lawsuit against Target and FIGat7th, alleging he suffered emotional distress from seeing Franklin die and arguing that the stabbings were foreseeable.

In addition, FIG has filed a cross-complaint for indemnity against Target.

City News Service