21-year-old Savannah State University student, Rebecca Lorraine Foley, was killed Monday evening in a shooting outside her home at the Colonial Village at Marsh Cove apartment complex in Southside Savannah.
Police responded to a shooting at the Colonial Village at Marsh Cove Apartments, off White Bluff Road, around 7:00pm Monday evening, January 21, 2012. According to initial reports, Ms. Foley was found fatally shot in her car outside building 67. Police believe the car was moving at the time of the shooting.
Apartment residents reported hearing shots fire, but did not see anything suspicious. The gunman is still at large, leaving a family grieving and a community frightened. Detectives are searching for a suspect and urge anyone with information to call the crime stoppers hotline at 912-234-2020.
While police seek a suspect in this grievous incident, Apartment Crime and Premises Liability Attorneys at The Murray Law Firm are investigating whether Colonial Village at Marsh Cove could have prevented this tragedy by properly securing the property for its residents. The family of Ms. Foley and the residents at Colonial Village at Marsh Cove deserve answers:
- Was the gunman a resident of Colonial Village at Marsh Cove and, if not, how did the gunman gain access to the complex?
- Was a security fence surrounding the property? Were there any breaks in this fence? Were security gates present at every entry point?
- Was a security attendant on duty Monday evening? Were complex security or police patrolling the complex or guarding the entrances?
- Was the parking lot where the shooting occurred properly lit?
As the details of this shooting continue to develop, The Murray Law Firm suggests that it is possible that the Colonial Village at Marsh Cove apartment complex failed to undertake proper security measures to protect those legally on the premises. Under Georgia law, an owner and management company of an apartment complex has a duty to protect such individuals from foreseeable crimes and to keep its premises safe. If the owner or apartment manager has reason to believe that criminal activity will occur on its property, reasonable measures must be taken to provide effective security. If the owner or manager fails in this duty, they may be held liable under Georgia law for any injuries that occur.
Should the apartment complex be found at fault in this tragedy, the family of Ms. Foley may elect to hold owner or management company civilly liable for her wrongful death. As insurance companies and unscrupulous parties are often more concerned with limiting their financial exposure in these incidents, it is crucial that an experienced premises liability firm be retained as soon as possible to ensure all evidence, such as surveillance footage, is preserved and the family's best interests are protected. The Murray Law Firm handles cases such as this one on a regular basis, and is willing to assist if requested to do so.
We extend our sympathies to the family of Ms. Rebecca Lorraine Foley, and offer our legal assistance if needed. Premises liability experts at The Murray Law Firm will continue to investigate and follow this shooting. If anyone has information to share, or if anyone is seeking information regarding the incident, please contact our legal hotline at 888.842.1616.