BELLEVILLE – A lawsuit alleges an East St. Louis man was fatally shot by his cousin when he mistook the decedent for an intruder.
Plaintiff Amiah Thames, acting as administrator of the estate of Dale Byrum, filed a lawsuit in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against defendants Levert Conway and Lawanda Byrum, citing negligence and carelessness.
According to the lawsuit, Byrum and Conway are cousins. On Aug. 16, 2020, the suit states that Byrum went to visit Conway, but does not indicate what time the visit occurred. Byrum was standing at the front door when he was shot three times. The lawsuit states that Conway had shot him by mistake, thinking he was an intruder.
"Knowing decedent was laying on the floor of the porch bleeding, [Conway] did not seek to obtain medical treatment for him for a period of forty minutes," the suit states.
Instead Conway allegedly called Lawanda Byrum, Dale Byrum's mother, who told him to do nothing. Lawanda Byrum allegedly sent her husband to pick up Dale Byrum and take him the hospital. Dale Byrum died shortly after arriving at the hospital, the suit states.
The plaintiff claims the defendants negligently caused Dale Byrum's injuries. Thames alleges that by not immediately seeking medical attention for Dale Byrum, they not only contributed further to his death but also caused him to spend the last moments of his life in unnecessary pain and fear.
The plaintiffs is seeking damages in excess of $50,000, plus court costs and any other relief the court deems proper. They are represented in this case by attorney Ronald A. Roth of Roth Law Offices, LLC in Granite City.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 22LA0644