Dr. Cameisha Clark, the Dean of Students at the Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology, was killed in May. Her family says they want answers and are filing a wrongful death lawsuit.
"How does a six-time felon get hired as your security guard?" said Chris Stewart, managing partner at Stewart Miller Simmons and one of the attorneys for Clark's family. "How do you hire someone who has an expired security license of over a decade to be your on-campus security? And most importantly, who does Mr. Figueroa work for? Spartan College is denying that he worked for them."
Former security guard charged with murder in shooting death of Spartan College dean in Inglewood
Former Spartan College security guard Jesse Figueroa, 40, was arrested and charged with the murder of Dr. Clark and the attempted murder of one other college employee.
The complaint alleges negligence on behalf of the college and the security company.
"They ignored warning signs," said Rodney Diggs, director at Ivie McNeill Wyatt Purcell & Diggs and another attorney for the family. "They skipped the basic checks that would have revealed his past, and they looked the other way. That failure put a dangerous man in a position of trust and, unfortunately, Dr. Clark had to pay with her life."
The 35-year-old victim earned her bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees from Clark Atlanta University. She was loved by her students and fellow faculty.
With some of those students standing behind her on Wednesday, Clark's mother says she wants her daughter to be remembered for the light she brought to the world.
"A healer, a mentor," said Tywana Williams, Clark's mother. "And a woman who gave so much of herself to others."
Eyewitness News reached out to Spartan College for comment, but haven't heard back yet.
Attorneys for Clark's family say there is no dollar amount attached to this lawsuit at this point.