Another lawsuit was filed against Kroger on Thursday by two residents injured in the mass shooting at the store’s Collierville location on New Byhalia Road. 

The lawsuit, filed by Joseph and Linda Ashe, is separate from the one that came to light earlier this week by Kroger employee Mariko Jenkins and comes a day before the one-year anniversary of the shooting rampage that left one customer dead and more than a dozen others injured.

Employee sues Kroger after Collierville shooting

The shooter, Uk Thang, a third-party contractor fired by Kroger earlier in the day, also died after turning the gun on himself as authorities swarmed the store in response to the shooting, according to police.

Joseph and Linda Ashe were shopping at the store when Thang went on shooting spree around 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 23, 2021. Of the 15 people injured, only one — resident Olivia King — succumbed to her injuries. While Thang was fired the hours before the shooting began, the suit filed in Shelby County Circuit Court sheds more light on his termination.

The lawsuit is also against JFE Franchising, the company that screened Thang. The lawsuit states JFE knew and should have notified law enforcement he posed a threat.

As Kroger managers fired Thang on the morning of Sept. 23, 2021, he asked what would happen if he didn’t leave. Kroger management told Thang that Collierville police would force him out of the building.

Around 6:30 a.m., Thang pulled down his mask and coughed on an employee. The staff member said if it happened again he would “mop the floor” with Thang.

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Thang responded with an obscene signal, according to the lawsuit.

“Mr. Thang had been known to aggravate employees of the store, who complained to their managers about him,” according to the lawsuit.

The suit suggests Kroger threatened to engage law enforcement and should have warned them about Thang and recognized he was a threat to the safety of guests and staff.

When Thang returned that afternoon, the Ashes were in the deli section of the store. When they realized what was happening, they ran out the back of the store and hid in the dumpster enclosure.

Thang also ran out the back of the store shooting. Joseph Ashe was shot in the left shoulder and stomach. He was taken to the hospital and underwent surgery. He spent 12 days there before he was released. Linda Ashe was hit by a ricocheted bullet.

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The lawsuit states Kroger should have better-trained employees and added security. It claims the Ashes have faced physical injuries, mental and emotional trauma and a decreased quality of life.

The Ashes requested a jury trial so they might be awarded compensation at an amount determined by the court. 

Kroger does not comment on pending litigation.

In July, one employee filed a suit stating Kroger was negligent and did not appropriately protect staff and shoppers. That matter is now in federal court.

Editor’s Note: Taylor Cates is the plaintiff’s attorney. Cates is also the attorney for The Daily Memphian.