ORLANDO, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - An Orlando, Fla., shooting range's online questionnaire wasn't enough to prevent a man with a history of mental health issues from renting a gun and shooting himself, a lawsuit says.
Ana Leblanc, as the personal representative for the estate of Mathues Pinheiro, filed a lawsuit Jan. 9 against The Shooting Gallery Range, Inc. in Orange County Circuit Court.
The complaint alleges negligence on the part of the shooting range for failing to adequately screen Pinheiro for risk of suicide before renting him a gun and selling him ammunition on January 4, 2023.
According to the court filing, Pinheiro had been undergoing psychiatric care for multiple conditions including depression, schizoid disorder, anxiety, borderline personality disorder and suicidal ideation for at least two years prior to his death.
He had also been hospitalized involuntarily five months prior due to threats of suicide.
The plaintiff argues that The Shooting Gallery's online customer screening process was inadequate as it auto-filled "no" answers to a series of questions that could have indicated potential risk factors.
It is alleged that Pinheiro completed this form without changing any pre-marked responses on January 3, 2023. The following day he rented a gun and purchased ammunition from the shooting range, where he subsequently committed suicide.
The lawsuit seeks monetary damages exceeding the jurisdictional minimum of the court. Andres Beregovich is the plaintiff's lawyer.