Koty Stewart, a 34-year-old man from Jacksonville, Florida, died on May 25, 2024, at Ginnie Springs, a privately owned park in Gilchrist County, Florida. The incident occurred during the Memorial Day weekend, when the park was crowded with over 20,000 visitors.
Stewart's death resulted from a gunshot to the head. The shooting happened after an argument over a parking spot between two groups of visitors.
According to the Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office, the altercation initially seemed to be resolved, but an hour later, Stewart was found shot near the Beaver’s Landing bathhouse. He did not survive the injury.
Two brothers from St. Marys, Georgia, Fisher and Dallas Watts, have been charged in connection with Stewart’s shooting. This incident was one of two fatal shootings that occurred at Ginnie Springs over the Memorial Day weekend. The second shooting, which happened on May 25 around 11:30 p.m., resulted in the death of Marco Mandujano, 26, after a large fight broke out and someone shot into the crowd, injuring three people. No arrests have been made in the second shooting.
The family of Koty Stewart has filed a lawsuit against Ginnie Springs Outdoors, alleging negligence on the part of the park's management. The lawsuit, led by attorneys from Campione Law, argues that the park's failure to enforce policies on drinking, weapons, and drugs created a dangerous environment that led to Stewart's death. The lawsuit also highlights past incidents at the park, including a woman's death in 2023 when she fell off the back of a pickup truck and was run over, and numerous calls for service and arrests during previous Memorial Day weekends.
In response to the deadly incidents, Ginnie Springs Outdoors has released a six-point plan to enhance safety and security at the park. This plan includes limiting park capacity, strengthening collaboration with law enforcement, increasing staffing during holiday weekends, retaining a third-party security expert, increasing visibility and understanding of park rules and policies, and providing additional training and resources for employees.
The park's management has faced criticism for their handling of safety and security, with allegations that they prioritized profits over safety, allowing a party atmosphere to prevail despite the risks. The lawsuit and public outcry have pressured the park to take more stringent measures to ensure the safety of its visitors.
