Schmittgens Injury Law Firm has filed a civil lawsuit on behalf of the Kozemczak family after a terrifying shooting on Interstate 70 in St. Charles County, Missouri. The case highlights a growing area of Missouri personal injury law: holding both individuals and companies accountable when violence occurs on the roadway. If you or a loved one has been injured because of violence or another dangerous incident, a St. Louis, MO personal injury lawyer can help you understand your legal rights and potential options.

What Happened on I-70

On behalf of our clients, we have alleged that on November 25, 2023, the Kozemczak family was driving westbound on I-70 near Cave Springs Road and Missouri 79 in St. Charles County.

For reasons unbeknownst to our clients, the driver of another vehicle, Theodore Adam Campbell, pulled alongside the family in a white Nissan Frontier, brandished a handgun, and fired a shot at their occupied vehicle. The bullet struck the car while the family was inside. As a result of this terrifying incident, our clients have suffered severe emotional distress that has affected them since the date of the incident.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol investigated the incident, and criminal charges were pursued against Campbell. The criminal case is still pending in the Circuit Court of St. Charles County, Case No.: 2311-CR0419-01.

Who Is Named in the Lawsuit

The civil petition names two defendants:

Theodore Adam Campbell — the alleged shooter
Premier Entertainment STL, LLC — Defendant Campbell’s employer

The lawsuit brings claims for:

Negligence
Assault
Intentional infliction of emotional distress
Negligent infliction of emotional distress
Vicarious liability
Negligent hiring, training, supervision, retention, and entrustment

Why This Case Matters

This wasn’t a minor traffic dispute — it was a firearm discharged at an occupied vehicle carrying three children on a public interstate. No family should have to fear for their lives while on the road.

Beyond the individual conduct alleged against Campbell, the lawsuit raises a broader question that comes up often in cases involving company-owned or company-connected vehicles: was the vehicle being used in connection with business operations, and did the company have adequate safeguards in place? Where a business entrusts a vehicle to someone without proper screening, training, or oversight, that business can share responsibility for the harm that follows — this is the legal theory behind negligent entrustment and vicarious liability claims.

Through this lawsuit, our firm intends to investigate:

What happened on I-70 on the evening of November 25, 2023
Whether the vehicle was connected to Premier Entertainment STL, LLC’s business operations
Whether appropriate hiring, training, and supervision safeguards were in place

Case Status

The civil case is pending in the Circuit Court of St. Charles County, Missouri, Case No.: 2611-CC00958. Both defendants have been served and our office is awaiting their answers to the allegations contained in our petition. As with any civil case, the allegations in the petition must be proven in court, and the defendants will have the opportunity to respond.

Injured by Violence on a Missouri Roadway? We Can Help

At Schmittgens Injury Law Firm, we represent people and families harmed by dangerous, reckless, and preventable conduct — including violence on the roadway. When a family’s sense of safety is shattered by an act of violence, the civil justice system offers a path toward accountability and recovery.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a shooting, assault, or other violent incident in Missouri or Illinois, contact us today for a free, confidential consultation.

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