West Lake shooting sparks lawsuits against MARTA

April 14, 2017 Atlanta: MARTA police patrol the gates at the West Lake MARTA station Friday, April 14, 2017 while Fulton County authorities identified the man accused in a brazen shooting that killed one MARTA train rider and injured three others. Chauncey Lee Daniels faces murder and assault charges in the Thursday shooting at the West Lake station, which killed Zachariah Hunnicutt, 38. Police haven’t revealed why Daniels would target anyone. MARTA Police Chief Wanda Dunham said officers would be an increased presence at all stations Friday.  She called the shooting “targeted” but “isolated.” “Our officers acted swiftly in apprehending the suspect at the West Lake station,” she said in a statement. “Those injured passengers were treated by EMS and transported to Grady Memorial Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.” The shooting was the fifth murder investigation MARTA police have had to undertake this fiscal year.  But in a recent presentation to media Dunham and other officials touted a 27 percent decrease in serious crime on the system. She attributed higher police visibility, 10,000 cameras installed on the system and the suspensions of problem riders. Still, she acknowledged the spate of killings, which is highly unusual, considering that in the previous four fiscal years there were zero. Murder charges and arrests also came in the other cases. JOHN SPINK /JSPINK@AJC.COM

Credit: JOHN SPINK / AJC

Credit: JOHN SPINK / AJC

April 14, 2017 Atlanta: MARTA police patrol the gates at the West Lake MARTA station Friday, April 14, 2017 while Fulton County authorities identified the man accused in a brazen shooting that killed one MARTA train rider and injured three others. Chauncey Lee Daniels faces murder and assault charges in the Thursday shooting at the West Lake station, which killed Zachariah Hunnicutt, 38. Police haven’t revealed why Daniels would target anyone. MARTA Police Chief Wanda Dunham said officers would be an increased presence at all stations Friday.  She called the shooting “targeted” but “isolated.” “Our officers acted swiftly in apprehending the suspect at the West Lake station,” she said in a statement. “Those injured passengers were treated by EMS and transported to Grady Memorial Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.” The shooting was the fifth murder investigation MARTA police have had to undertake this fiscal year.  But in a recent presentation to media Dunham and other officials touted a 27 percent decrease in serious crime on the system. She attributed higher police visibility, 10,000 cameras installed on the system and the suspensions of problem riders. Still, she acknowledged the spate of killings, which is highly unusual, considering that in the previous four fiscal years there were zero. Murder charges and arrests also came in the other cases. JOHN SPINK /JSPINK@AJC.COM

Two lawsuits filed this week claim MARTA was negligent in an April 13 fatal shooting on one of its trains.

A Clayton County man, Chauncey Lee Daniels, has been charged with murder and aggravated assault in the attack on a train at the West Lake station that killed one man and injured three people.

According to police, Daniels fatally shot Zachariah Hunnicutt, 38. Though police have not cited a motive, they say Daniels knew and targeted Hunnicutt and shot the other victims. Police say 31 people were on the train at the time of the shooting, and 10 were in the line of fire.

Both lawsuits were filed Wednesday in Fulton County Superior Court. One was filed by Alishha Clopton, Hunnicutt’s wife, the other by Johnesia Cofiled, who was severely injured in the shooting.

The lawsuits name MARTA and Daniels as defendants. They say MARTA failed to provide adequate security at West Lake station. Among other things, they also say the agency knew of prior criminal activity that created hazardous conditions there and failed to warn patrons.

The lawsuits seek unspecified compensation for personal injuries, pain and suffering, and other damages.

MARTA did not respond to a request for comment on the lawsuits.

Hunnicutt’s death was the fifth homicide MARTA police investigated this fiscal year. There were no homicides the previous four years.

Despite the recent homicides, MARTA officials have said the transit system is safe, citing a 27 percent decrease in serious crime in the past five years.