Local News
A shooting outside The Reserve at Ivy Creek Apartments reportedly claimed the life of 22-year-old Reginald Bien-Aime Thursday evening, January 1, 2015.
According to the AJC, Gwinnett County Police responded to multiple shots fired at The Reserve at Ivy Creek apartment complex Thursday night. Upon arrival, officers apparently discovered Reginald Bien-Aime, fatally shot inside a car at the back of the gated parking lot. Per media reports, Mr. Bien-Aimee was found in the driver seat of the vehicle, with the driver side door ajar.
A suspect has allegedly been charged in connection with the shooting. Police have not announced how the assailant obtained access to the property or whether robbery is currently considered a motive.
Our Legal Take
While relieved a suspect is now in custody, The Murray Law Firm is questioning whether another party may also hold responsibility in the tragic death of Mr. Bien-Aime: The Reserve at Ivy Creek.
The apartment complex is reportedly gated. Is the shooter a resident of The Reserve at Ivy Creek and, if not, how did he gain access to the property? Was the gate system working at the time of the assault? If so, did the gate allow for vehicles and pedestrians to follow residents through?
What additional security measures, such as security fencing, security patrols, ID controlled entry, bright lighting, emergency call boxes, and surveillance cameras, were in place to deter crime and protect residents and guests on property?
Have there been previous incidents of violence on or near property and, if so, what additional precautions were implemented by the apartment owner and management prior to the shooting? How did these security measures fail?
By Georgia law, apartment owners and managers have a duty to protect all residents and guests legally on property from any foreseeable harm. For example, should an apartment owner have knowledge of previous violence on or near property, they have a responsibility to implement extraordinary security measures to deter future crime.
Should the owner and management of The Reserve at Ivy Creek have failed in their responsibility to protect Mr. Bien-Aime, his family may elect to hold the property civilly liable in his wrongful death. Claims of this magnitude, potentially in the millions of dollars, will demand The Reserve at Ivy Creek and other local apartment owners finally make resident safety their first priority. By demanding adequate safety precautions, many other young lives may be spared.
Photographs and a thorough inspection of the property will need to be performed on the family’s behalf immediately before any evidence, such as surveillance footage or broken gates, may be repaired, damaged or destroyed.
The Murray Law Firm works tirelessly to protect victims of apartment violence and property negligence and we offer our legal expertise, if needed. Anyone seeking further information or legal representation is encouraged to contact us at 404.842.1600. Consultations are free and confidential.
