SEATTLE — The mother of Essence Greene-Madden, who was killed by a stray bullet during the 2023 Capitol Hill Block Party weekend, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the organizers.
The lawsuit argues Independent Event Solutions LLC failed to adequately protect event-goers, resulting in the 20-year-old's death.
A trial date is scheduled for Feb. 24, 2025.
A statement from Capitol Hill Block Party said while organizers couldn't comment on the merits or specifics of pending legal proceedings, they are cooperating with the process.
"We extend our heartfelt condolences to the victims and families impacted by this incident, and we stand in solidarity with our community in denouncing any form of violence," the statement reads, in part. "It is important to clarify that this unfortunate event occurred many hours after Capitol Hill Block Party concluded, outside of the festival's footprint."
The shooting that resulted in Greene-Madden's death occurred during the early morning hours of July 23, 2023.
Police officers responded to reports of a large crowd gathering and vehicles driving recklessly at the intersection of Broadway and East Pike Street around 1:30 a.m. Sunday, according to the Seattle Police Department. Officers were met with resistance, including people jumping on top of the hoods of police vehicles and throwing objects, police said at the time. Seattle police said they needed additional resources to safely break up the scene, but said to avoid further conflict decided to back away.
The crowd was upwards of 500 people, according to the police department. The call came at a time when more people were in the area following the Capitol Hill Block Party. Officers assigned to other major events were already stretched thin.
Just before 4 a.m., officers heard gunfire and found two victims at the intersection. One of the victims, a man in his late 20s, was treated at the scene. The second victim was Greene-Madden. Both were taken to Harborview Medical Center.
A third victim contacted police officers several blocks away but did not remain at the scene, according to police. She later arrived at the hospital for treatment. A fourth victim, with non-life-threatening injuries, also arrived at the hospital for treatment.
Greene-Madden died three days later.
The lawsuit said the organizers are responsible for keeping people safe, including retaining security and conducting crowd management after the event. The lawsuit stated that moveable barriers used during the event remained on the street, preventing people from leaving promptly.
Additionally, the lawsuit alleged there was a report of a person threatening to shoot an employee around 1:30 a.m. and the event organizers did not take appropriate action.
When the streets were filled by the illegal street racing, Block Party attendees became "sandwiched between [Seattle police officers] and their cars on one end and barriers" erected for the event, according to the lawsuit.
"A human wall of people that couldn't get out one way or the other. They were sandwiched between the police cars, and the drag racing," said Sumeer Singla, the attorney for the victim's estate. "And then you had another group of people on top of that come out of the bars. You created the perfect storm for when for somebody who shoots into a crowd, and then ends up killing, killing my client.”
Singla describes Greene-Madden as an exceptionally sweet young woman.
"Whatever protocols Capitol Hill Block Party had in place last year were just not effective," Singla said.
The suit claims event organizers failed to move barriers so that the crowd could easily disperse. Singla added, "There should have been sufficient security to guide people out of that area."
The suit also claims there was "a report of an individual threatening to shoot an employee” and that the party organizers “failed to take appropriate action."
Organizers of the event, which is planned for July 19-21 this year, say they look at security measures each year and "have taken additional steps to address concerns proactively for the next iteration of the festival." Those steps, according to organizers, include:
- Working with the police department for enhanced security on the event grounds, including additional personnel onsite during and after the event
- Having volunteers throughout the event monitoring for wellness or safety issues
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