Attorney: Fatal shooting was preventable
Family of man slain in warehouse attack files suit against firm
Francisco Reyes was a family man, a husband of 10 years and a father to three young children. He loved jujitsu and competed at the purple-belt level during many weekends, his two daughters cheering him on. He worked hard, touting three employee-of-the-year awards from his work as the nighttime supervisor at a food distribution warehouse in Missouri City.
But on Aug. 20, Reyes went to work his night shift on Cravens Road and never came home. Authorities said he was shot and killed by coworker Kristine Peralez, who entered their workplace with a gun in the early hours of the morning.
Now, members of Reyes’ family say they are seeking justice for his death. At a news conference Wednesday, attorney Benny Agosto announced a lawsuit against the employer, Ben E. Keith Company, alleging that it had failed to secure its buildings. The suit also accuses the company and Peralez’s estate of negligence.
“Miss Peralez walked in with a semi-automatic weapon with no gates to hold her back, no security guard on the premise, nobody to stop her,” Agosto, an attorney for the Reyes family, said at the news conference. “This tragedy was preventable.”
Agosto said the company had previously received violent threats from a different coworker and had hired security guards for three months as a result. However, Agosto said, the company discontinued security services about a month before the shooting.
“We bring this lawsuit to bring justice for this family to send a message that companies like Ben E. Keith need to protect its coworkers and have safety measures on its premises,” Agosto said. “In particular, if you’re going to be working 24/7, making money 24/7, cut out a little bit (of money) for a security guard.”
Capt. Paul Poulton with the Missouri City Police Department was among the police officers who responded to the scene the night of the shooting. He said he remembered “at least two gentlemen wearing jackets that said ‘security’ on the back.’ ”
Poulton added that Peralez’s motives are still unknown, even though she streamed her final words to family on Facebook around 2 a.m. and blamed an unspecified person for the violence yet to unfold at the workplace. Authorities said Perelez fatally shot Reyes and wounded Fedencio Janas, then exchanged fire with responding police officers before taking her own life.
“I miss him. I will always love him,” said Reyes’ wife, Michele Peña. “It’s hard for my children; they keep asking for him. It’s going to be hard without him.”
The Ben E. Keith Company did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The company previously said the incident was a “tragic situation” and that it was working with investigators.
About 20 to 25 workers were inside the building when shots were fired, police said, and several employees talked with Peralez before the shooting broke out.
Ben E. Keith Foods is a national food distribution company. The Missouri City location opened in 2013 and has 431 employees