Executive Summary
- The family of Mark T. Garrity, Jr. reached a $1.3 million settlement in a wrongful death lawsuit.
- Garrity was fatally stabbed in April 2023 by store owner Taiseer Zarka, who was later convicted of manslaughter.
- The lawsuit alleged negligence, citing over 900 emergency calls to the location in the prior five years.
- Defendants included the former owner, his corporation, and the property landlord.
RALEIGH, N.C. – The family of Mark T. Garrity, Jr., who was fatally stabbed inside a Raleigh convenience store in 2023, has reached a $1.3 million settlement in a wrongful death lawsuit, according to attorneys representing the estate. The settlement resolves civil litigation filed against the former store owner, his corporation, and the property’s landlord following the violent altercation that claimed Garrity’s life.
According to court documents, the incident occurred on April 6, 2023, at Taz’s Supermarket on South Wilmington Street. Attorneys state that Garrity was shopping at the establishment when the store’s owner, Taiseer Zarka, approached him with a knife. Zarka accused Garrity of shoplifting before stabbing him three times. Following a criminal trial, Zarka was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to more than five years in prison.
The wrongful death lawsuit was filed in April 2025 by Garrity’s mother, Amy Garrity. The suit named Zarka, his company Jasmen Corporation, and the property landlord, Phillip Horwitz, as defendants. Legal filings alleged that the supermarket was a known hub for criminal activity, citing over 900 emergency calls to the location in the five years preceding the stabbing. Attorneys argued this history established a foreseeable risk to patrons.
Amy Garrity addressed the resolution in a statement provided by her legal team. “This journey has been one of insurmountable anguish and grief but also one of hope,” she said. “While nothing can replace Mark and the love we shared as a family, this resolution honors his memory, brings a sense of justice to his loved ones, and works to prevent senseless tragedies like this from happening in the future.”
Civil Liability and Premises Security
This settlement highlights the critical legal concept of premises liability, particularly regarding the responsibilities of business owners and landlords to ensure the safety of their patrons. The citation of over 900 emergency calls is significant, as it helps establish “foreseeability” in civil court—the idea that the defendants should have been aware of the danger and taken distinct measures to mitigate it. By securing a settlement based partly on the property’s history of unchecked criminal activity, this case underscores the financial and legal imperative for commercial operators to maintain adequate security protocols in high-risk environments.
