Frantic Costco Customers Injured After Emergency Exit Doors Failed to Open During Fatal Shooting at North McKinley Street and 91 Freeway [Corona, CA]

Authorities Investigate Whether Emergency Exit Doors That Failed to Open During Corona Costco Shooting Played Factor in Those Injured

 
CORONA, CA (June 18, 2019) – Investigators are determining whether the emergency exit doors that failed to open during Friday’s Costco shooting played a factor in those injured.
 
The mayhem broke out around 7:46 p.m. and drew Corona Police Officers to Costco Wholesale. At 480 N. McKinley St., an off-duty Los Angeles Police Department Officer was reportedly shopping with his family.
 
The patrol officer assigned to the LAPD’s Southwest Division had his young child in his arms when without provocation, Kenneth French attacked him.
 
Precisely how the 32-year-old Riverside man attacked him is unclear, but reports noted that the officer suffered a head injury caused by a severe blow.
 
From there, customers heard at least six shots echo throughout the warehouse. The unidentified officer allegedly fired his weapon, hitting Kenneth and his parents – Russell French and Paola French.
 
Unfortunately, Kenneth died in the altercation and his parents remain in critical condition.
 
However, what witnesses and news reports are describing is still under major scrutiny by detectives.
 
According to a family member of the Frenches, Kenneth was a nonverbal “friendly giant” and had an intellectual disability.
 
Along with that claim, officials are investigating the emergency exit doors.
 
Witnesses say panic-stricken Costco patrons fled for their lives toward the emergency exit doors, yet the doors failed to open. Per witnesses, this struggle fueled their panic, allowing distress to intensify.
 
Some customers trampled over others while others injured their hands trying to open a door that would not let. Witnesses further added that people appeared traumatized by their failed attempt to escape at a safe and fashionable timing.
 
Costco employees, including one in Seattle, reported that Costco doors are not locked but are on a 10 to 12-second time delay. It appears, perhaps, the doors were designed in such a way to deter shoplifting or capture shoplifters.
 
However, this isn’t the first time Costco’s emergency doors have fallen under speculation. A Costco in Dallas had their doors on a 15-second delay, which could extend to 30 seconds upon request.
 
It was when a shopper and his wife who were unable to escape from these doors during a robbery at this location that Costco attracted critical observation concerning its emergency doors.
 
At this point, it’s unclear whether the Corona Costco holds a similar policy. Costco has not responded officially, and the investigation remains.

---

Our personal injury law firm would like to take this moment to express our heartfelt sympathies to the families and friends mourning the loss of Kenneth French.

---

If you’ve been involved in a negligent or reckless accident, contact the Sweet Lawyers to represent your case. In the last 44 years, we’ve helped families and individuals obtain justice, compensation to cover hospital bills and reformation to get their lives back on track. Why settle with the circumstances of a traumatic episode when you can hire us? Call our lawyers at (800) 674 7852 to schedule your free consultation!