UPDATE, 10:38 a.m. ET
A spokesperson for MGM Resorts International has given CrimeOnline a statement in response to the lawsuit:
“The tragic incident that took place on October 1st was a meticulously planned, evil senseless act. As our company and city work through the healing process, our primary focus and concern is taking actions to support the victims and their families, our guests and employees and cooperating with law enforcement. We are grateful for all who came to the victims’ aid that evening, including our employees, first responders, the police and citizens who acted in countless ways to assist. Out of respect for the victims we are not going to try this case in the public domain and we will give our response through the appropriate legal channels.”
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The family of a young California woman killed in the Las Vegas shooting massacre on October 1 has filed a wrongful death suit naming the management group that operates the Mandalay Bay Hotel Resort & Casino.
The Los Angeles Times reports that the father of Andrea Castilla of Huntington Beach, who was in Las Vegas to celebrate her 28th birthday when she was killed in Stephen Paddock’s hail of bullets, has filed a lawsuit against MGM Resorts International and Paddock’s estate.
Gus Castilla reportedly asking for $100,000 in damages in addition to a claim for medical an funeral expenses. The suit reportedly alleges that MGM Resorts International was negligent in allowing Paddock to bring an arsenal of firearms to his hotel room on the 32nd floor undetected.
“It’s inconceivable to us that once within the hotel … the perpetrator could remain undetected with that cache of weapons for three to five days, mount surveillance cameras and hide behind do-not-disturb signs without detection if the hotel engaged in properly conducted security checks,” Castilla’s attorney Richard Bridgford told the Los Angeles Times.
Andrea Castilla was reportedly at the Route 91 Harvest Festival with her boyfriend, her sister, and her sister’s fiancé; and was holding hands with her sister when Paddock opened fire on the crowd watching Jason Aldean perform. A bullet struck Andrea in the head. Her boyfriend told the Los Angeles Times that he was planning to propose to her during the Vegas trip.
The suit also names Live Nation, the concert promoter. Andrea’s companions reportedly tried unsuccessfully to find an exit in their desperate attempt to find the injured woman medical care, and had to pull her over a fence. A passing motorist transported the group to Sunrise Hospital on the bed of his truck.
According to a statement on a GoFundMe campaign page to raise contributions for her grieving family, there was a mixup at the hospital amid the chaos, and Andrea’s companions were told that she was in surgery as they waited for seven hours for information. As it turned out, Andrea was pronounced dead immediately after arriving to the hospital.
The lawsuit alleges that Live Nation did not provide adequate exits. A representative for Live Nation responded with a statement given to the Los Angeles Times, declining to comment specifically on the lawsuit.
“We continue to be devastated by the tragedy at the Route 91 festival, heartbroken for the victims, their families and the countless people forever impacted by this senseless act of violence and are cooperating fully with the active FBI investigation.”
MGM Resorts International did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
[Feature photo: GoFundMe]
