Parents of teen who died after apartment shooting sue complex – site of 1K police calls since 2023

The parents of 19-year-old Patrick Hurlburt, who was killed during an armed home invasion in February, have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the owners of the Marley at Trout River apartments in Jacksonville.

The lawsuit alleges the complex failed to provide appropriate security measures despite knowing about crime at the property and a prior lawsuit.

The Haggard law firm, which represents Hurlburt’s family, says he died six days after someone broke into the Northside apartment he lived in with his father and shot him in broad daylight.

Speaking publicly for the first time since his death, family members said they want answers and to hold the complex’s owners accountable.

“Patrick was my son, the only child, my best friend,” his father, Joshua Hurlburt, said.

His family described him as bright and kind. They said he dreamed of serving in the Air Force and was a great brother to his 5-year-old sister.

“She just looked up to him so much,” his mother, Rhiannon McKinney, said. “Her whole life is turned upside down. I’m never gonna be the same, you know. She’s never gonna get that fun, mommy.”

The Haggard Law Firm says this is the second wrongful death lawsuit they brought against the complex in five years.

The 2021 lawsuit was against the property’s previous owners for the same reasons after Marvin Ousley was also shot and killed during an attempted armed robbery.

The firm alleges that the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has responded to the complex nearly 1,000 times between July 2023 and the day Hurlburt was shot in February of this year — averaging roughly once a day. Of those calls, they say more than 30 involved guns or weapons, and two other people were shot during that period.

Despite that history, the lawsuit says the new complex owners failed to make security changes.

The firm alleges that despite the complex’s crime history and previous lawsuit, the new owners failed to add security measures or warn residents about dangers at the complex.

“They ran that complex, no access control, no surveillance cameras, no security guards, and worst of all, no warnings to people like Josh and his son,” said Pedro Echarte, the crime victim lawyer representing the family. “Nothing changed but the name on the sign, and the paint on the walls.”

“Whoever killed Hurlburt came and went unseen and undeterred, leaving the family without answers,” Echarte said.

The family said they are taking things day by day.

“[He was] just a good influence,” Rhiannon McKinney said. “I would have a bad day, and I’m like, God, I look horrible, and he’d just tell me, ‘Mom, you’re the best little mom in the world.’”

“He was going to make a difference in this world. He really was,” McKinney said.

Action News Jax contacted the complex for a response and was told it could not comment on the matter.

Hurlburt’s killing remains unsolved. His family is asking anyone with information to contact First Coast Crime Stoppers or the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.

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