A shooting at a Citgo gas station in Pompano Beach recently led Broward County deputies to a convicted felon. While law enforcement focused on the criminal, there is a second question that deserves equal attention: was this shooting preventable — and did the property owner do enough to stop it?

Convenience stores and gas stations consistently rank among the highest-crime commercial properties in Florida. They operate late hours, handle cash, attract transient foot traffic, and are frequently located in areas with elevated crime rates. Courts across Florida have recognized this reality — which means gas station owners are held to a higher standard when it comes to security.

A convicted felon with a known criminal history was allegedly involved in this shooting. That raises an immediate question: was there anything about this individual — prior incidents at this location, prior trespass notices, prior complaints — that should have put the property owner on notice?

To establish a negligent security claim against a gas station or convenience store in Florida, an attorney typically investigates:

• Crime history at the specific location — prior robberies, assaults, or shootings reported to police
• Whether the owner had trespass notices or prior complaints about specific individuals
• Security camera coverage and functionality — were cameras recording? Were they visible as a deterrent?
• Lighting in the parking lot and fuel area — poor lighting is one of the most common security failures at gas stations
• Whether security personnel were required given the location's crime history

Any one of these failures, if proven, can form the basis of a negligent security claim against the property owner.

Florida courts apply a foreseeability standard: if a property owner knew or should have known that violent crime was likely on their premises, they had a duty to act. Gas stations in high-crime corridors — especially those with prior incident reports — are held to a high standard precisely because the risk is well-documented.

When an owner ignores that risk, cuts corners on security, or fails to remove known threats from the property, they become legally responsible for the consequences.

Families often assume that because a criminal pulled the trigger, only the criminal is liable. Florida law says otherwise. A property owner who fails to take reasonable precautions — knowing that violence was foreseeable — shares responsibility for what happens on their property.

This is not about punishing a business for a crime they did not commit. It is about holding property owners accountable when their negligence created the conditions that allowed the crime to happen.

Security footage at gas stations is typically overwritten within 24 to 72 hours. Incident logs, staffing records, and maintenance reports can be altered or lost. If you or a loved one was injured in a shooting at a gas station or convenience store, the time to act is now.

An attorney can send a preservation letter immediately, locking down the evidence before it disappears.

If you were injured in a shooting at a gas station, convenience store, or any commercial property in Florida, call Juan Cordero Lawyers. We handle negligent security cases throughout Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and the Treasure Coast. The consultation is free, and we never charge a fee unless we win.

305.525.8957 — Available 24 Hours. Hablamos Español.

Related Reading:

• Why You Need Florida's Best Negligent Security Lawyers — CPTED-Trained, DCA-Ready, and Built to Beat the Foreseeability Defense
• Shot at a Florida Hotel or Motel? The Property May Be Liable
• Varone v. Publix: What Is Foreseeability in Florida Negligent Security Cases?
• What Is Negligent Security and When Can You Sue in Florida?