Elmone Bennett was shot and injured during a home invasion at his Pineland Square apartment in Hinesville Wednesday, January 8, 2014. Investigators are now questioning whether a serious security lapse at the complex may have contributed to the assault.
According to Hinesville Police Maj. Thomas Cribbs, Mr. Bennett and his girlfriend were returning home from grocery shopping Wednesday evening when they noticed a gray SUV sitting in their Pineland Square apartment parking lot with several occupants inside.
As the couple walked into their home, one man forced Mr. Bennett to the ground at gun point while two others ran inside the apartment, holding his girlfriend at gunpoint. Mr. Bennett was pistol whipped and shot in the left collarbone during the violent home invasion.
Now, as police search for the gunmen responsible, premises liability attorneys at The Murray Law Firm are questioning a potentially fatal security lapse at Pineland Square apartments:
- A sign outside the Pineland Square apartments notes the parking lot is manned 24 hours. Where was security at the time of the assault? The intruders were sitting in a car prior to the attack, apparently waiting for a victim to enter their home. Why did security fail to notice this suspicious vehicle?
- Were the gunmen residents of Pineland Square and, if not, how did they obtain access to the property? Were access controls, such as an entry-controlled gate, security check, surveillance cameras, or ID card system, in place at the time of the attack?
- Have their been previous incidents of home invasions or violence on or near Pineland Square property and, if so, what additional security measures were implemented by management and ownership to protect residents?
As the details of this attack continue to emerge, The Murray Law Firm believes it is possible that the owner and management of Pineland Square failed in their duty to protect Mr. Bennet and his girlfriend. By law, property owners are required to protect all residents and guests legally on their premises from foreseeable harm. For example, should an apartment owner have knowledge of previous crime in the area, it is their duty to take extraordinary security precautions to protect residents from future acts of such violence.
Should Pineland Square be found at fault in this incident, Mr. Bennett and his girlfriend may elect to hold the owner and management civilly liable for all injuries they suffered as a consequence. Such substantial claims will demand Pineland Square and other local apartment owners make resident safety their first priority.
The Murray Law Firm works tirelessly for victims of apartment crimes and has garnered millions of dollars for victims of such property negligence. We pray for the swift recovery of Mr. Bennett and offer our legal expertise in this matter, if needed.
Anyone seeking information on our investigation is encouraged to contact us at 912-385-9690 or toll free at 888.842.1616.
