The Haggard Law Firm’s Maegan Bridwell, Adam Finkel, and Michael Haggard secured a $1 Million settlement in a negligent security case involving the shooting death of a food delivery driver.
On June 8, 2024, Alejandro Linares-Millan, a 40-year-old DoorDash delivery driver, arrived at The Mirage at Sailboat Cove, a townhome community in Miami-Dade County, Florida, to deliver groceries to a resident. What should have been a routine delivery turned into a tragedy that claimed his life and forever changed the lives of his wife and two children.
As Alejandro unloaded groceries from his vehicle around 8:00 a.m., an armed assailant approached and shot him. Alejandro collapsed while awaiting emergency assistance and was transported to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
Following an extensive investigation, attorneys at The Haggard Law Firm uncovered alarming security failures at The Mirage at Sailboat Cove that contributed to the dangerous conditions that allowed this fatal shooting to occur.
Security Failures at The Mirage at Sailboat Cove
Property owners and management companies have a legal obligation to provide reasonably safe premises for residents, guests, and authorized visitors. This duty becomes especially important in communities where families live, work, and receive services from delivery drivers, contractors, and visitors.
Despite marketing itself as a family-oriented residential community, The Mirage at Sailboat Cove failed to implement even basic security measures designed to deter criminal activity.
The investigation revealed:
- No effective access control at community entrances
- Broken gates that allowed unrestricted entry
- No surveillance camera system
- No security guards or physical security presence
- No meaningful monitoring of who was living within the community
- No policies designed to identify unauthorized residents
These security deficiencies created an environment where unauthorized individuals could access and remain on the property without detection.
The Alleged Shooter Was Living in the Community Undetected
One of the most troubling discoveries involved the individual accused of killing Alejandro.
The Haggard Law Firm discovered, the alleged shooter, was residing in the community with his grandmother despite not being properly vetted or screened by property management.
Industry standards often require property owners and managers to maintain procedures that help identify unauthorized occupants and monitor who is residing within residential communities. The investigation found that The Mirage at Sailboat Cove allegedly lacked meaningful policies or practices for monitoring residents and occupants.
As a result, the alleged shooter was reportedly able to reside within the community without scrutiny and ultimately commit a violent act against an authorized visitor delivering groceries to a resident.
Why Security Guards and Active Monitoring Matter
In many negligent security cases, the presence of trained security personnel can serve as a powerful deterrent against criminal activity.
Security officers can:
- Monitor entrances and exits
- Identify suspicious behavior
- Enforce community rules
- Screen unauthorized individuals
- Respond quickly to developing threats
- Coordinate with law enforcement when necessary
According to the findings in this case, active security personnel may have identified unauthorized occupants, questioned suspicious individuals, and potentially prevented the circumstances that led to Alejandro’s death.
When residential communities fail to implement reasonable security measures despite foreseeable risks, they may be held accountable under premises liability law in most states, including Florida.
Understanding Negligent Security Claims in Florida
Negligent security is a type of premises liability claim that arises when a property owner or manager fails to take reasonable steps to protect lawful visitors from foreseeable criminal acts.
Examples of negligent security failures include:
- Broken or ineffective gates
- Lack of access control systems
- Poor lighting
- Failure to employ security personnel
- Inadequate surveillance cameras
- Failure to address known criminal activity
- Lack of policies to monitor residents and guests
Property owners are not automatically responsible for every crime that occurs on their property. However, when foreseeable risks exist and reasonable security measures are not implemented, liability may arise.
The central question often becomes whether the criminal act was foreseeable and whether reasonable security measures could have prevented or reduced the risk.
The Haggard Law Firm Secures a $1 Million Settlement
Based on the extensive security failures identified during the investigation, The Haggard Law Firm secured a $1,000,000 settlement from The Mirage at Sailboat Cove before extensive litigation was necessary, and despite issues with insurance coverage that limited the family’s access to a recovery.
Nevertheless, the settlement provides financial accountability for the devastating loss suffered by Alejandro’s family.
Protecting Delivery Drivers, Residents, and Visitors
The death of Alejandro Linares-Millan highlights an important reality: delivery drivers, rideshare drivers, contractors, guests, and service providers often enter residential communities with the expectation that reasonable security measures are in place.
When communities fail to maintain those safeguards, innocent people can become victims of preventable violence.
Property owners and management companies must recognize that security is not merely an amenity—it is a responsibility.
Contact The Haggard Law Firm
The Haggard Law Firm has litigated nearly 500 negligent security cases nationwide and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of victims and families harmed by preventable criminal acts. Click here
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed due to inadequate security at an apartment complex, condominium, hotel, shopping center, or residential community, contact The Haggard Law Firm to learn about your legal rights.
