Family of Chicago woman killed in nightclub shooting files wrongful death lawsuit
Family of Chicago woman shot and killed at nightclub file wrongful death lawsuit
The family of a 21-year-old Chicago woman who was shot and killed at a nightclub in the south suburbs earlier this month filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the venue alleging negligence.
CHICAGO - The family of a 21-year-old Chicago woman who was shot and killed at a nightclub in the south suburbs earlier this month filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the venue alleging negligence.
Zulma Calderon Pacheco was shot and killed at Mansion Live in Stone Park on March 8.
The family of a 21-year-old woman who was shot and killed at a nightclub in the south suburbs earlier this month filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the man charged in connection with her death. Zulma Calderon Pacheco was shot and killed at Mansio (Provided to Fox 32)
Kevin Henley Jr., 35, of Chicago, was charged with involuntary manslaughter and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon on Monday in connection with the shooting death, authorities announced.
He worked as a security guard at the nightclub.
Wrongful death lawsuit
What we know:
Attorney Timothy J. Cavanagh announced the latest lawsuit on Tuesday.
The family of the victim claimed in the lawsuit that Mansion Live was negligent and that their security guard caused Calderon Pacheco’s death.
The plaintiffs claimed that Henley, whom they did not name in the lawsuit, "carelessly" brandished a handgun and fired it during a fight. They also claimed that he did not have a license to carry a gun inside the nightclub.
"Mansion Live failed this family on March 8," said Cavanagh. "They hired a security firm that had a security guard that was out on probation. He didn't have a FOID card as required by Illinois law, and he didn't have the proper training under Illinois law."
RELATED: Chicago man charged in Stone Park nightclub shooting that killed 21-year-old woman
The lawsuit also claimed Mansion Live did not regularly use metal detectors on those entering the nightclub.
The backstory:
A fight broke out inside the nightclub around 1:40 a.m.
During the fight, the lawsuit claimed the security guard pulled out a gun and fired a shot, which struck Calderon Pacheco in the face while she was dancing with her boyfriend. They were not the intended target, nor were they involved in the fight.
"It was very unexpected and the dude just decided to pull out a gun," said Joel Chimborazo, Calderon Pacheco's boyfriend. "And everything happened so fast. She just dropped behind me."
The lawyers for the family also alleged that Mansion Live "failed to provide appropriate security to ensure the safety of its patrons."
Calderon Pacheco left behind her two parents and four younger siblings.
What's next:
The state's petition to keep Henley detained was denied. He's been released on electronic monitoring and ordered to stay away from Mansion, have no contact with witnesses, cannot possess guns, and he can't leave the state without permission.
He's due back in court on April 11 in Maywood.