7th Heaven sued by parents of slain cashier

The parents of Cheri Bland, the 7th Heaven employee who was shot dead in the store on August 26, are suing the store for negligence, alleging that a manager failed to act against an “imminent threat.”

Bland died in what police determined to be a murder-suicide. Police said Desmond Bell, 26, shot himself after fatally shooting Bland, 29.

According to the suit, Bell’s mother managed the 7th Heaven store.

Two days before the murder, Bland had sought an order of protection against Bell, the father of her 10-month-old child. The suit alleges that Bell’s mother, knowing her son was “distraught” over this development, informed him that Bland was working at 7th Heaven on the day he killed her.

Bell visited his mother before going to 7th Heaven to confront Bland, according to the suit. Bell’s mother called the store and instructed an employee to lock the side door, according to the suit, but not did not alert police. The lawsuit suggests that Bell walked in the front door.

According to the lawsuit, Bell had a history of physical, emotional and mental abuse against Bland. The suit alleges that the abuse sometimes took place at 7th Heaven in the presence of store employees. 

The suit alleges that 7th Heaven was negligent in providing a safe work environment, in its hiring and supervision of employees, in failing to warn Bland she was in danger and in failing to promulgate and enforce safety protocols.

Store owner Jan Finchman did not respond to a request for a comment.

Bland’s parents, the plaintiffs, are Andrea Walker and Rodney Bland.