Woman sues Scheels over gun-related death of her minor son at Eden Prairie store

A Minnesota woman is suing sporting goods retail chain Scheels, alleging negligence after her 19-year-old son committed suicide at Scheels' store in Eden Prairie.

Everytown Law and two law firms filed suit Monday on behalf of Sarah Van Bogart against Scheels and a store employee. The suit was filed in Hennepin County District Court.

In August 2022, Van Bogart's son Jordan Markie visited the Scheels store in the Eden Prairie Center shopping center and asked an employee to show him a handgun. The employee allegedly gave it to him without verifying his age.

The indictment states that Markie held the gun for about half a minute, then ran to another part of the store, loaded it and took his own life.

“The defendants entrusted Jordan with a handgun even though he was 19 years old at the time, looked significantly younger than 21, and appeared nervous in the minutes before the defendants handed him the gun. Contrary to industry custom and practice, the defendants neither requested nor obtained proof of age before handing him the gun,” the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit also alleges that Markie received the pistol “without a trigger lock or other locking device and with the magazine inserted and ready to receive ammunition.”

“Scheels provided a minor with a functioning handgun without taking the most basic precautions,” the lawsuit states. It also alleges that Scheels and his employee “violated industry customs and practices.”

“Jordan was kind, artistic and full of empathy and compassion for others. Our family misses him every day,” Van Bogart said in a press release announcing the lawsuit.

“Far too many mothers share my pain. Too many families share an empty chair at the kitchen table because someone committed suicide with a firearm. Jordan should never have been given that gun, let alone a gun unlocked just steps away from accessible ammunition. My son should be alive today.”

A message was left with Scheels seeking comment on the lawsuit.

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