Tenants trapped during building rampage say warning signs were ignored for months

A group of tenants from Marina del Rey's Pearl Apartments have filed a lawsuit against Equity Residential and other parties. They alleged gross negligence by authorities in failing to prevent a shooting rampage that occurred in April. The lawsuit contends that the incident, which left residents pinned to their apartment floors, could have been averted if property management had heeded earlier warnings about Victoryloc Nguyen's erratic behavior.

On April 13, Nguyen opened fire at the Pearl Apartments and the nearby Marina 41 complex for nearly four hours, armed with multiple AR-15 rifles and a pistol. The lawsuit claims that despite residents' complaints about Nguyen's behavior in the months leading up to the shooting, the building's owners, Equity Residential, and their security contractor failed to take appropriate action to remove or monitor him.

According to the lawsuit, between January and April 2024, Nguyen made alarming comments to fellow tenants. These included expressing a desire to be "the Pearl's drug dealer" and threatening to kill residents and "cook their bodies into tasty food." Tenants reportedly witnessed him brandishing weapons, stalking residents, and exhibiting signs of drug-induced psychosis. The situation was so dire that his former roommate moved out secretly due to fears for their safety.

One particularly troubling incident occurred on April 9, just days before the shooting. Witnesses reported that Nguyen acted aggressively at the Pearl's pool area, exposing himself in front of minors, wielding a knife, and slashing at nearby trees and a young woman. Despite this incident occurring in front of multiple tenants, including children, no immediate action was taken to remove him from the property.

The lawsuit further criticizes management's failure to facilitate a swift police response on the night of the shooting. Law enforcement was reportedly delayed in entering the building because the complex did not provide key access to officers, forcing them to break down doors. This delay, the plaintiffs argue, allowed Nguyen to continue his shooting spree, further endangering lives and increasing the emotional toll on residents.

Victims of the attack, including plaintiffs Anil and Ulku Alpogunc, describe the harrowing experience of being trapped in their apartment, fearing for their lives. Like many other tenants, they are now seeking damages for the emotional and psychological trauma suffered during the attack. Many plaintiffs have reported post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and ongoing fear of loud noises.

The lawsuit alleges that Equity Residential acted negligently by failing to provide adequate security measures, such as installing security cameras or coordinating with law enforcement to address Nguyen's increasingly aggressive behavior. The plaintiffs are seeking compensatory and punitive damages, citing emotional distress, PTSD, and a failure by management to protect tenants from foreseeable harm.

Equity Residential did not immediately respond to inquiries from Mirror Media Group regarding the lawsuit.

In the aftermath of the shooting, Nguyen was charged with multiple counts, including two counts of attempted murder of officers, one count of attempted murder of a civilian, and several counts of assault with a machine gun. If convicted, he could face life in prison.