FSU's Ethan Pritchard attorney claims apartment owners, managers were 'negligent' on safety

ORLANDO, Fla. - Florida State freshman linebacker Ethan Pritchard is suing two Havana apartment complexes after he survived a shooting there in August.

Ethan Pritchard filed a lawsuit in Gadsen County against two apartment complexes and their property managers in Havana after he suffered severe injuries from a shooting on August 31. 

Havana is about a half-hour northwest of Tallahassee and FSU's campus.

The lawsuit alleges that both Havana Heights Apartments and Riverside Apartments are aware of their lengthy history of criminal activity on and in the vicinity of the premises. The complaint said that the complex's owners knew or should have known that there's a tendency for criminal conduct by third-parties that could expose residents, guests or the public to danger, a Nov. 20 press release said. 

The backstory:

Authorities said Pritchard was ambushed outside the Riverside Apartment Complex in Havana on Aug. 31, while driving his aunt home after the Seminoles' upset win over Alabama. He was hit in the back of the head by gunfire.

Pritchard was driving his aunt home, driving past Havana Heights and Riverside Apartments, when an unknown number of assailants shot at his car. 

Pritchard underwent emergency surgery, followed by extensive physical therapy. Pritchard's aunt and niece had minor injuries. He was released from a rehabilitation center on Nov. 13.

"Ethan did nothing wrong," his attorney, Gregorio Francis, said Nov. 26. "Because of the lack of responsibility – lack of accountability – by these apartment complexes – knowing that there's an issue, knowing that there's a need for additional safety – but ignoring that need." 

Who is Ethan Pritchard?

Pritchard, a 6-foot-2, 224-pound freshman from Sanford, was recruited to Florida State for his energy and passion on the field. He did not play in FSU’s season-opening win over Alabama on Aug. 30, just one day before the shooting. 

Pritchard is a former defensive player from Seminole High School in Sanford.

His rise as a promising young athlete has been interrupted by what officials describe as a "senseless act" of violence.

Who is Pritchard filing a lawsuit against? 

An amended complaint was filed in Nov. 10 against Riverside Apartments LPP – who owns the Section 8 complex Riverside Apartments – and Community Havana LLC – which owns the Section 8 complex Havana Heights Apartments. 

Pritchard was driving past these two apartments when he was shot, authorities said. 

Daniel McMillan – who manages Riverside Apartments – and Republic First Management Inc. – who is the property manager for Havana Heights Apartments – are also named in the lawsuit. 

What they're saying:

What if apartment owners, property owners actually paid attention to what the needs are of their complexes – their properties where they collect rent? Gregorio Francis, founder of Orlando-based personal injury firm Osborne and Francis – who is representing Ethan Pritchard in a lawsuit against two Havana apartments – asked Nov. 26.

 If they had done that, Francis said, Pritchard would be preparing for the Florida vs Florida State game. 

"Preliminary investigation has revealed that they clearly knew that there were security issues at both of these complexes," Francis said. "It’s clear that they have done nothing, otherwise we wouldn’t be sitting here today."

Pritchard is now fighting for every step he takes, Francis said. 

"We're here to make sure that those owners, that those apartment complexes, are held responsible for their neglect," he said.

Who shot Ethan Prichard? 

Investigators believe the shooting was a case of mistaken identity, but they have not released details about why Pritchard was targeted or whether additional suspects may be involved. Three men and one teen were arrested in connection to the shooting.

Jayden Bodison, 22, of Woodville, Caron Miller, 18, of Havana, a 16-year-old boy from Havana were charged with three counts of attempted murder, and one count of shooting into an occupied vehicle. Germany Atkins, 23, of Havana, was arrested on a violation of probation charge.

Osborne and Francis attorney Ryan Fletcher said there's a pattern of violence that had been increasing at the apartment complexes for years. 

In the weeks leading up to Pritchard's shooting, there were multiple incidents perpetrated by a Riverside Apartments resident, Fletcher said.  After the shooting, neither property did anything to increase security, he said. 

The lawsuit said Germany Atkins, who lived at Riverside Apartments, was arrested for gun and narcotics possession in
2022 and 2023. He trafficked narcotics in and around the premises and caused multiple disturbances on Riverside's premises. The complaint said both Riverside Apartments LLP and McMillan allowed Atkins to remain living there and failed to evict him. 

Attorneys argues landlord negligence

Dig deeper:

The lawsuit raised three counts of negligence against Riverside Apartments LLP, Daniel McMillan, Community Havana LLC and Republic First Management Inc. 

The counts alleged that the criminal attack and shooting were reasonably foreseeable. The complaint also said the apartment failed to provide security for its residents and have or maintain surveillance cameras in working condition. The claim also alleged that duty as a landlord includes taking precautions to protect residents, invitees and members of the public.

The lawsuit alleges that the defendants knew the apartments had a long history of prior violent crimes occurring at the premises or in the vicinity. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Section 8 landlords are required to conduct criminal background checks. 

The other side:

FOX 35 reached out to both apartment complexes identified in this lawsuit. Both Havana Heights and Riverside Apartments  declined to comment on the lawsuit.