Antonio McNeil, 38, died Thursday of an apparent heart attack, according to jail documents. He collapsed in a jail stairwell and was rushed to Shands Jacksonville Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
McNeil was scheduled for trial later this month in the July 2009 beating death of 60-year-old Fred Harris at a Waffle House restaurant on Busch Drive on the Northside.
Police said Harris was carrying hundreds of dollars the night he was killed.
A day later, police arrested McNeil after they said he confessed to the killing.
Harris' son filed a lawsuit against Waffle House, claiming the cashier was McNeil's girlfriend and called him when she saw Harris had a large amount of money in his wallet.
Police said McNeil's girlfriend witnessed the beating and reported it to police. She was not charged with any criminal wrongdoing.
McNeil was found not competent for prosecution in April 2010 and was remanded to a state psychiatric facility.
Am I the only one who finds it completely ridiculous to sue the Waffle House? I 100% believe that if you are committing a crime, you (and anyone wanting to sue on your behalf) should be waiving your right to sue.
Re: News Story- Thoughts?
It appears that the son of the original victim is the one who is suing the Waffle House, not the son of the person who died in jail (the one who committed the crime).
I can see how the son would attempt to bring a lawsuit against Waffle House since the person who was in their employment allegedly would have been the indirect cause of his father's death.
I don't know enough about holding a business liable for a crime committed by an employee to know if the suit has any merit though.
How is it that my BABY is going to be 3?
BFP-2/25/11; 8 Wk U/S-3/25/11-No HB, measured 6.5 wks; D&C
I'd assume that Waffle House would have to be found negligent of something, but I really don't see what. The killer was not an employer of theirs and the waitress in the story was not charged with anything. She was not even named as a defendant in the son's lawsuit against Waffle House and the owners.
ETA: Here we go...here are the missing details being claimed in the lawsuit:
http://www.news4jax.com/news/25196552/detail.html
The victim's son outlines in the complaint that McNeil had talked with other employees before "requesting their assistance, or otherwise advising them of his intentions, in robbing the store or a patron."
The lawsuit says other employees contacted management about this, and the owners of Waffle House "knew or reasonably should have known of the zone of risk ... of assault and violent acts."
While Brian Harris wouldn't comment on the case Tuesday, according to the lawsuit he filed, he said the restaurant's management could have prevented his father's death.
A lawyer for Waffle House said he believes the company does not have any fault in Harris' death, but would not comment further.