Lawsuit filed in West Virginia for a New Jersey Student who was Shot and Killed in a Campus Apartment Building

Messa & Associates are currently representing a mother after her son was shot and killed while in a West Virginia University (WVU) apartment. The New Jersey family was shocked and devastated to hear about the loss of their loved one while he was away at college.

This tragic incident occurred when two men were able to enter the residential student housing apartment building that Eric Smith, a WVU student, was inside of. Eric Smith, originally from Clementon, New Jersey, was a sophomore at WVU majoring in multidisciplinary studies. 

The building, owned by West Virginia University, has a lock system on the entryways and lobbies to prevent non-residents from entering the building, however, the entryways were not locked. 

The issue of the doors to this building remaining unlocked was ongoing and known throughout the University when other non-residents gained entry previously including homeless people. 

Due to the negligence of WVU, two armed men, who were not students at the university were able to freely enter the building and fire multiple shots into an apartment, killing Eric Smith. 

It is the responsibility of the University to keep its students safe. Not only were the doors left unlocked, but the security cameras went unmonitored. This tragedy could have been avoided if WVU took the proper precautions to protect its students. A young man lost his life because the school failed to protect him. 

If you lost a child or loved one due to a defective product, a premises defect, a car accident, or some other type of negligence, Messa & Associates is here to help. Call us at 215-568-3500 or send us a message through the online inquiry form. Our attorneys are available to discuss your potential claim and your options moving forward.