On June 10, 2021, 69-year-old Litha Varone was shot and killed inside a Publix supermarket in Royal Palm Beach, Florida. Her 23-month-old grandson, Sam Varone, also died in the same attack. The shooter, Timothy Wall, 55, opened fire inside the store and later died of a self-inflicted wound.

The Varone family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Publix, alleging the supermarket failed to provide adequate security despite more than 40 criminal incidents in and around that store over a three-year period. The suit contends the company ignored warning signs and did not employ security personnel or other measures that the family says might have reduced the risk.

The case raises questions about corporate responsibility for customer safety in public retail spaces and whether known patterns of crime should trigger more protective steps. If anyone knew Litha or Sam, or has information about security issues at that Publix location, please share what is known.