Northwoods Mall Stabbing Lawsuit Raises Negligent Security Questions in North Charleston
A September 24 Live 5 News report describes a negligent security lawsuit after a Northwoods Mall food-court stabbing. The complaint's allegations have not been established by a judgment.
Informational purposes only. This article provides legal information and commentary, not legal advice. Every case is different — contact Traywick Law Offices for a free evaluation.
The Incident
Live 5 News reported on September 24, 2026, that a lawsuit was being brought after Tommai Murphy was stabbed in the Northwoods Mall food court. The reported attack occurred on March 4 shortly before 10 a.m., months before the lawsuit coverage. Murphy was taken to a hospital for stab wounds and lacerations to her torso.
According to the report, the lawsuit alleges inadequate security, a failure to stop a person carrying an exposed knife, and a lack of patrols in the food court. The station also reported more than 1,400 police reports at the mall between January 2021 and the attack, including assault incidents. The mall and Allied Universal had not responded to the station's request for comment. These are allegations and reported background, not judicial findings that either defendant was negligent.
Original news report: Live 5 News: Charleston law firm files negligent security lawsuit against a Lowcountry mall (reported 2026-09-24).
What South Carolina Law Says
A property owner is not automatically liable whenever a visitor is injured by someone else's criminal act. A South Carolina negligent security claim requires analysis of the duty owed, foreseeability, the reasonableness of security measures, causation, and damages. The circumstances of prior incidents matter, not merely the total number of police reports.
A security contractor's obligations may depend on its contract and actual undertaking. Establishing that additional reasonable precautions would have prevented or reduced the harm is a separate issue from showing that an assault occurred. Criminal proceedings against an attacker do not decide every civil claim against a property owner or contractor.
Your Rights and Options
Preserve medical records, witness information, photographs, and communications about the incident. Counsel may seek preservation of security footage, patrol logs, incident reports, and relevant policies before they are routinely overwritten. An injured person should avoid assuming that a business's internal report contains all available evidence.
What I Look For When Evaluating These Cases
I examine the sequence before the attack, what employees or security personnel could observe, prior comparable incidents, and the actual response. Security contracts and staffing records can clarify which entity performed which tasks. Police-call data must be assessed for relevance rather than treated as proof of a particular breach.
How Insurance Companies Will Fight Back
Property owners and security companies may argue that the attack was unforeseeable, occurred too quickly to prevent, or was caused solely by the assailant. They may also dispute their contractual responsibilities. The plaintiff must connect the alleged security failure to the injury with evidence, not just hindsight.
Related Practice Areas at Traywick Law Offices
These claims connect with Charleston premises liability and personal injury litigation involving injuries on commercial property.
My Final Thoughts
The September news concerns a lawsuit over a March attack; those dates should not be confused. The case raises concrete questions about security and notice, but the reported allegations remain to be proven. Injured shoppers need an evidence-based assessment rather than a promise that the business must pay.
The date at the top is this article's editorial publication date. The original report and incident dates are identified above. Legal commentary is separate from the reported facts; allegations are not court findings.
Talk to a Charleston Attorney
For advice about your situation in Charleston, North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Summerville, or the Lowcountry, contact Traywick Law Offices or call (843) 343-5092. A consultation can help identify the documents, deadlines, and legal issues that need attention.
This article is for general informational purposes only, not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Outcomes depend on individual facts, applicable law, and procedural requirements. This article summarizes the linked local news reporting. It does not establish liability or replace the investigating agency's findings or a court's decision.
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