On a Wednesday morning in April, seven-year-old Zhanaye Williams left home en route to her bus stop. However, she never made it.

Police said the child attempted to move a huge gate that encloses the parking lot at the apartment complex where she lived,  and it fell and crushed her. She died of head trauma.

This week, her mother filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Brookside Apartment, 5008 Sierra Place, and its management, Franklin Street Apartment Management Services.

Ms. Coretta Williams filed the lawsuit on behalf of her deceased child and her surviving child, Christian, 9, who witnessed the incident that led to his sister’s death.

Ms. Williams alleged the complex failed to maintain the premises, correct dangerous conditions, or to inspect and correct those conditions. She also stated in the lawsuit that her son has suffered “injury and emotional distress and his damages are continuing.”