Stockbroker Shot by Investor Sues Gunman’s Widow, Seller of Weapon

A stockbroker who was wounded when an angry investor opened fire in a Merrill Lynch office has filed a $25-million suit against the gunman’s widow and the company that sold the gun.

The lawsuit was filed Thursday in Dade County Circuit Court by Lloyd Kolokoff, who was paralyzed from the waist down in the shooting Oct. 26, a week after the stock market’s record 508-point collapse.

Office manager Jose Argilagos was shot in the head and killed. The gunman, Arthur Kane, then turned his weapon on himself.

Named as defendants in the lawsuit were Judith Kane and Tamiami Gun Distributors Inc., owners of the shop that sold Arthur Kane the pistol and ammunition.

The suit alleges Kane was deranged and shot Kolokoff while “acting on an irrational impulse.” It contends that Judith Kane, as the personal representative of Kane’s estate, was negligent. She was unavailable for comment Friday.

The lawsuit also contends Tamiami sold Kane the pistol in violation of a law requiring a “cooling-off” period on gun sales.