Scheels wrongful death lawsuit moves toward 2026 jury trial

A Hennepin County judge has scheduled a fall 2026 jury trial in a wrongful death lawsuit alleging that Scheels All Sports and one of its employees were negligent in allowing a 19-year-old to handle a handgun inside the company’s Eden Prairie store.

The case stems from an August 2022 incident in which Jordan Lance Markie died by suicide after loading a store handgun with ammunition taken from shelves and fatally shooting himself. His mother, Sarah Van Bogart, filed a civil complaint in September 2024 and is serving as trustee for Markie’s heirs under Minnesota’s wrongful death statute.

In an April 9 ruling, Hennepin County District Judge Karen Janisch denied the defendants’ motion to dismiss the case, allowing it to proceed to discovery. She wrote that Van Bogart’s amended complaint was sufficient to state a valid claim for negligent entrustment under Minnesota’s liberal notice pleading standard.

A discovery plan was filed with the court on April 29 and approved by Janisch the following day. The plan outlines a timeline for exchanging evidence, identifying witnesses, and submitting expert reports through April 30, 2026. The case is scheduled to be trial-ready by Aug. 3, 2026.

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According to a May 1 trial scheduling order, the jury trial is set for the court’s civil trial block beginning Oct. 26, 2026, and concluding no later than Dec. 4, 2026. A final pretrial and settlement conference is scheduled for Oct. 16, 2026. The trial is expected to last approximately eight days.

The lawsuit accuses Scheels and employee William Ballantyne of failing to follow standard industry practices, including verifying identification and assessing whether Markie was legally and emotionally fit to handle the weapon. Surveillance footage showed Markie examining the handgun for 28 seconds before running off with it, loading it with ammunition, and fatally shooting himself inside the store.

In the April 9 court order, Judge Janisch noted that while the handgun was not loaded when it was handed over, it was operable and equipped with a magazine, and that ammunition was readily accessible in the store – conditions she found could create a foreseeable risk of harm. She also wrote that under Minnesota law, the employee’s intent in handing over the weapon does not determine whether the act constituted negligence.

Scheels and Ballantyne filed a formal answer to the complaint on April 21, denying all allegations. Their attorneys argued that the incident was unforeseeable, that Markie was legally allowed to possess a firearm, and that the federal Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act shields gun dealers from liability under certain conditions.

The original complaint describes Markie as a gifted pianist and composer whose death could have been prevented if stricter firearm safety protocols had been in place. Van Bogart is seeking damages for negligent entrustment and wrongful death.

For anyone experiencing a crisis, please call or text 988, the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or text MN to 741741 to access trained counselors available 24/7/365. If you or a loved one is at imminent risk, contact 911 and request a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) officer.