On Feb. 6, 2018, Hugo Selva began a shooting spree that lasted nearly 24 hours, killing two people and injuring two more. One of those victims, Edvin Milkevic, was murdered in his car on I-95 the morning of Feb. 7. Now, Gary M. Cohen, a named partner of Grossman Roth Yaffa Cohen (GRYC), is representing Edvin’s family in a negligence lawsuit, which claims the City of West Palm Beach and the West Palm Beach Police Department are responsible for the length of the shooter’s rampage, resulting in Edvin’s death.
According to the Palm Beach Post, the perpetrator, Hugo Selva, reportedly called 911 on the day of the shootings to confess to killing the first man outside a lodge in West Palm Beach. After telling the dispatcher he still had a gun, Selva was simply told to go to police headquarters. The dispatcher, who had 30 years of experience, allegedly never followed up on the shooter’s whereabouts.
Elzibeta, Edvin’s sister, believes this negligence means the West Palm Beach Police Department is also responsible for her brother’s death. She told media that “if they would do the job that they are supposed to do, he would be alive.”
Attorney Gary Cohen argues that the dispatcher should have kept Selva on the line while officers arrived at his location. In an NBC 5 News West Palm Beach interview, Gary added that the shooter “wanted to be arrested, he wanted to be helped and instead, they put him off like you would a caller calling about a lost cat.”
The City has yet to comment on the lawsuit as it is still active. Edvin, 29, was a Lithuanian immigrant and an aspiring attorney who planned to enroll in law school later that fall.
Read the articles featuring Gary Cohen below for more information on the case:
- Palm Beach Post: Lawsuit: West Palm dispatcher could have stopped Hugo Selva from murders, chase
- NBC 5 West Palm Beach: Family of man killed by suspect says West Palm Beach police are also responsible
If you are reading this because you or somebody you love is seeking representation for a similar case, Grossman Roth Yaffa Cohen can help. Contact us today for a free consultation.
