South Carolina Lawyer Blog
A homeless man who was shot with a .22 caliber rifle by an Oregon State University fraternity member has been awarded over $6,000 for medical expenses and $35,000 in non-economic damages, totaling over $40,000.
The jury found both the Association of Alpha Beta Chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho (AGR) and a former member responsible for the 2006 shooting. The national organization was not held responsible, according to news reports.
Witnesses testified that the fraternity members were known to shoot BB guns from the fraternity building windows and had talked about shooting homeless people with BB guns. After a search of the fraternity house, police found more than 24 firearms. The guns are allowed according to the AGR guidelines as long as they are securely locked.
The individual found liable in the case testified he was aiming at a dumpster and not the homeless man. After the shooting incident, he was kicked out of the fraternity.