By REEMA AMIN
Chicago Sun-Times Wire
Lakeisha Tate
A lawsuit filed Thursday claims a Citgo gas station is to blame for the 2013 shooting death of a Lakeisha Tate, which prosecutors said stemmed from a Facebook fight.Myree Tate filed the lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court against the gas station on the corner of Harrison and Homan. Tates’ relationship to Lakeisha Tate wasn’t known.
On Aug. 26, 2013, Lakeisha Tate was walking out of the gas station in the 3300 block of West Harrison when she was confronted by 30-year-old Khalila Southall, prosecutors said at Southall's bond hearing in September 2013.
The two started fighting on the ground at the entry to the station store when Southall pulled a gun and shot Tate in the leg and torso, prosecutors said. Tate later died at Stroger Hospital.
Khalila Southall | Chicago Police
Southall, who fled to Rochester, Minn., after the shooting, later admitted to Chicago Police that she and Lakeisha Tate had an argument on Facebook and did not like each other, prosecutors said. Her next court date is scheduled for Aug. 5.
The lawsuit doesn’t mention Southall, but claims the Citgo station was aware of the “many serious, violent crimes” that happened on its property. It said the station was negligent for having no security, and not warning Lakeisha Tate of imminent danger.
Neither the station nor a spokesman for Citgo could be reached for comment Thursday evening.
The single-count suit claims wrongful death and is asking for more than $50,000 in damages.