CHARLESTON — A Charleston man is suing 7-Eleven after he was injured during a shootout at the convenience store that was well known to authorities.
Andre H. Joyner was walking into the convenience store located along East Washington Street on Dec. 16 to get a cup of coffee when a 7-Eleven employee became involved in an altercation with several others in the store and at least one of the individuals began firing a gun, according to a complaint filed in Kanawha Circuit Court.
Joyner claims a bullet struck him in the back and he fell to the ground, bleeding and struggling to breathe. He claims he was rushed to a nearby emergency room and had to undergo surgery.
The convenience store, despite having more than 100 9-1-1 calls in the year prior, was negligent in failing to have any sort of safety in place, according to the suit.
Joyner is seeking compensatory and punitive dmaages. He is represented by Jack C. Dolance of Warner Law Offices in Charleston.
The case is assigned to Circuit Judge Jennifer Bailey.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 21-C-257