Coxie v. Academy Sports
Summary
A gun dealer supplied multiple firearms to a prohibited purchaser, through a straw purchaser. The purchaser then used the guns to kill multiple people. Brady sued the gun dealer alleging it negligently and illegally supplied a dangerous criminal.
Facts
Academy Sports + Outdoors in Spartanburg County, South Carolina sold five firearms to a straw purchaser who supplied Todd Kohlhepp, a prohibited purchaser and now convicted serial killer, through several straw purchases. Dustan Lawson acted as Kohlhepp’s straw purchaser, and later pleaded guilty to illegally supplying Todd Kohlhepp with firearms.
In December of 2015, 29-year-old Johnny Coxie went missing and was later found murdered on Kohlhepp’s property. Kohlhepp confessed to killing seven people including Johnny Coxie. Kohlhepp used the Glock pistol purchased from Academy Sports + Outdoors to kill Coxie.
Court History
On behalf of Johnny Coxie’s family, Brady, and Standeffer Law, LLC in South Carolina filed suit against Academy Sports, alleging that the company negligently sold to Dustin Lawson leading to the death of Johnny Coxie and Todd Kohlhepp's other victims. Summons was filed on December 17, 2019, in the Court of Common Pleas Seventh Judicial Circuit in the County of Spartanburg, South Carolina.