'Hunters' targeted lawyer as 'prey' in fatal carjacking at upscale mall, retired detective says
As four suspects await trial in the slaying of a New Jersey lawyer during a carjacking last December in the parking lot of an upscale shopping mall, Dustin Friedland’s widow is pursuing civil litigation against the Mall of Short Hills and an ambulance company over his death.
After a legal battle, she got permission to turn over surveillance video obtained during the litigation to ABC News. It shows the same two-tone SUV targeting victims, including the Friedlands, on two different days at the mall, without any apparent intervention by mall security, attorney Bruce Nagel told the network. He represents Jamie Friedland in the wrongful death case.
“They’re hunters, and they’re looking for their prey,” says retired New York police detective, Nick Casale, of the vehicle movements shown in the video. He now runs a private investigation company.
Four jailed suspects have pleaded not guilty to felony murder and carjacking charges in the Essex County case and a lawyer for the owner of the mall declined to comment on the pending civil litigation.
In addition to premises-liability claims against the mall owner and operators and a private security company, the suit also asserts a claim against a volunteer ambulance company, the Star-Ledger says. It seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.
An ambulance arrived at the mall after 18 minutes. However, it was blocked by a 7-foot roof clearance from getting to the parking lot area where Friedland had been shot and first responders had to go get him on foot, Inside Edition reported.
“I think this case is a wake-up call. If the malls want people to come and spent their money at stores that are located there, they’ve got to make it safe,” Nagel told ABC News. “And this case says to them, ‘Go out and take the steps to make sure that your patrons are going to be safe.’”
Hat tip: Daily Mail.
Related coverage:
Associated Press: “Short Hills Mall can’t stop release of shooting videos”
