Two weeks ago, the driver ploughed his car into Carmax in Inglewood and slammed it with a glass window and injured eight people. One of them was paralyzed. Currently, two victims are taking legal action.
According to an unpublished civil suit before Los Angeles Superior Court, father and daughter Michael Washington are suing suspects for physical and emotional damages they say they suffered as a result of suspect Andrew Yes Arroyo and Arroyo’s out of control.
Last week, prosecutors charged Arroyo with 12 detectives including attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, vandalism and hit and run, and injured others. Some of the accusations against him have been bolstered to cause major physical damage.
Washington intends to sue Arroyo for attacks, batteries, negligence and mental distress, and claims that when they tried to escape, they suffered medical injuries that required treatment, according to the complaint.
They also accused Carmax of negligence and emotional distress, claiming that the company and its employees were unable to take reasonable steps to maintain safe conditions in the store. Representatives from Carmax and Arroyo could not be immediately contacted for comment.
Washington and Carmax draw two different photos of the events leading to the vehicle massacre.
The father and daughter say they witnessed the employee pushing Arroyo during the discussion, leading to a physical altercation between the two. Other employees then rushed towards Arroyo, making him “more upset and unstable,” and claimed he had driven him out of the store, where he jumped into a car and jumped on the fence.
“After this very serious verbal and physical altercation, Carmax employees did not call the police station or 911,” the complaint states. “And there were no security personnel at the Carmax Store.”
A statement previously provided to The Times by Carmax said that Arroyo was in the store discussing his car’s evaluation. He then went outside and looked at the inventory before returning when it became “unstable.”
“According to the accounts of employees who interacted with the suspect that day, he complained about the offer and even spent time looking at stock for potential purchases,” the statement said. “Employees share that they observed that his behavior suddenly became unstable.”
An employee from his days shopping at the dealership prior to the incident said he saw a customer screaming at staff trying to settle down. The customer shook a metal water bottle before going outside and jumping on the roof of the car. The Times employee and his wife became uncomfortable and left.
After a violent rampage filmed in the video, Arroyo was kicked out of the showroom at 8611 S. La Cienega Blvd. And then he turned himself into a police officer.
Of the eight injured, two were taken to the trauma center where they were seriously injured, police said. According to criminal case documents against him, one of the people who Arroyo was charged with injuries is now paralyzed.
Carmax says one of the employees was treated at a hospital for a life-threatening injury and was released.
“We are deeply saddened by the event and our hearts come to everyone affected,” the company said in a statement.
Washington says he suffered severe emotional distress as a result of the incident, including anxiety, loss of sleep, anger and stress. The lawsuit does not specify the physical injuries they suffered. They are seeking damages in excess of $35,000 in the amount determined in court.
Arroyo remains in custody without bail, according to prison records. At his arrest hearing Wednesday, Arroyo’s lawyers expressed doubts about his client’s mental abilities. He is scheduled to appear in Mental Health Court on April 2nd.
