On April 1, 2023, at approximately 3:26 a.m., 16-year-old Makye Vogel was found shot and killed in the parking lot of The Avenues Apartments on the south side of Jacksonville, Florida. Makye died from a gunshot wound to the chest. The identity of the shooter and the motive behind the shooting remain unknown.
For Makye’s mother—a single parent and his only surviving family member—the loss was devastating. In the wake of her son’s death, she filed a wrongful death lawsuit alleging negligent security, asserting that the apartment complex failed to take reasonable steps to protect residents and invited guests from foreseeable criminal harm.
Trial Tested the Limits of Negligent Security Defenses
The case went to trial on December 8, 2025, in Duval County, where Makye’s mother was represented by The Haggard Law Firm’s Todd J. Michaels, Adam Finkel, and Kimberly Wald, a firm nationally recognized for its courtroom success in premises liability, negligent security, and wrongful death cases.
At trial, the The Haggard Law trial team argued that the owners and managers of The Avenues Apartments failed to provide adequate security, and that these failures were a contributing cause of Makye’s death. The Defendants countered by emphasizing crime statistics, claiming that in the two years preceding the shooting, only one violent crime had occurred at the property and that there had never been a prior homicide. They also pointed to the presence of nightly security patrols from 7:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., arguing that reasonable safety measures were in place.
Despite these defenses, the jury closely examined the evidence, the security practices, and whether those measures were sufficient under the circumstances.
A $3.9 Million Judgement for Accountability and Justice
At the conclusion of trial, the jury returned a $3.9 Million judgement in favor of Makye’s mother.
The result underscores a critical legal principle in Florida negligent security law: the presence of some security does not automatically equal adequate security. Property owners and managers have a legal duty to assess risks and implement reasonable measures to protect people lawfully on their premises.
Proven Trial Lawyers for High-Stakes Negligent Security Cases
This verdict reflects The Haggard Law Firm’s extensive trial experience and willingness to take complex, emotionally charged cases to verdict when accountability matters most. Negligent security cases are often fiercely defended, requiring seasoned trial lawyers who know how to dismantle crime-statistic arguments, challenge security protocols, and present compelling evidence to a jury.
For victims’ families, these cases are not just about compensation—they are about responsibility, change, and justice.
Holding Property Owners Accountable Across Florida
The Haggard Law Firm has built a reputation for standing up to large property owners and management companies and securing meaningful results for families harmed by preventable violence. Verdicts like this send a clear message: cutting corners on safety has consequences.
If you or someone you love has been injured—or lost their life—due to negligent security, experienced trial lawyers matter.
