TAMPA, Fla. — The family of 26-year-old Latoya Gay is suing the Tampa apartment complex where she was killed in a crossfire after a shooting broke out on Jan. 18.

Gay’s family says that the complex, Silver Oaks Apartments, lacked the appropriate security at the time of her death.

The young mother had been visiting a friend when the gunfire broke out in the parking lot. Her 7-year-old daughter was by her side as she took her last breaths. 

With a memorial stole draped over her shoulders, Gay’s grandmother, Vernessa Howard, fought back tears as she talked about how much she misses her granddaughter, who was a young mother.

“This has left a hole in our family. This has left a hole in our hearts. I don’t know if I’ll ever get over this. I don’t know if this will ever be the same.

“We miss her, and it’s hard to deal with this. This is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to deal with, to see my children breaking down,” said Howard.

Leaning on each other today, the family announced the lawsuit filed against the companies that run the apartment complex, saying security was severely lacking at the time of Gay’s death, making it easy for the suspects to get onto the property.

“They allowed criminals to feel safer than citizens at Silver Oaks, and they are responsible for the generational devastation that tortures this family,” said Haggard Law Firm Attorney Adam Finkel.

Gay’s family is calling for change at this complex, along with other apartment complexes across the city.

They are also asking the public to come forward and help police find the people involved in Gay’s shooting.

Spectrum Bay News 9 reached out to the attorney representing the companies that run Silver Oaks Apartments to find more information on security measures there and reaction to the filing of this lawsuit, and have not heard back.

One person, a juvenile, has been arrested in Gay’s shooting. Anyone with information on the others involved is asked to contact Tampa Police by calling (813) 231-6130 or share a tip via Tip411, which is accessible through the TampaPD app.