(CBS 46)
Security Negligence? Our Legal Take: 7-Year-Old Shot While Sleeping at Paradise East Apartments
Local News
A 7-year-old girl is reportedly recovering from a drive-by shooting at the Paradise East Apartments complex, which occurred shortly before midnight Tuesday, January 13, 2016.
According to CBS 46, the young victim was sleeping in her bed when multiple shooters sprayed gunfire into her Paradise East apartment building on Bouldercrest Road. One of the bullets apparently pierced the child’s bedroom wall, striking her in the leg. She was transported to the hospital and “is expected to recover.”
Police have not yet identified suspects in the drive-by shooting, once again leaving apartment residents concerned for the safety of their families.
One resident apparently told media, “Bullets were flying everywhere in my apartment. I’m just thankful my kids are okay. This is the second time this has happened in the past three months, and a murder happened here about a month ago. This is getting ridiculous.”
Fox News 5 reports confirm a man was shot and killed at the same complex less than a month ago, on December 16, 2015. Two others were apparently shot at the complex in a robbery attempt in April 2015.
Our Legal Take
Apartment residents and guests have a right to feel safe and secure while on property. Given the reported history of violence at the Paradise East Apartments complex, The Murray Law Firm is questioning the level of security provided to residents and whether this unconscionable attack may have been prevented.
- How did the gunmen and vehicle gain entry to the property? What security measures, such as gated-entry, bright lighting, surveillance cameras and security patrols, were in place to protect residents and deter crime at the time of the shooting?
- Were any additional security precautions implemented by the complex owner and management following prior reports of criminal activity on property?
By law, apartment owners are required to protect all residents and guests legally on the premises from any foreseeable harm. Should the facts of this matter reveal that the apartment complex owner or management company failed to provide adequate security, the young victim and her family may elect to seek justice and pursue a legal claim for her injuries.
Based upon its extensive and successful experience in handling negligent security cases against apartment complexes in Georgia, The Murray Law Firm suggests that photographs and a thorough, unbiased inspection of the apartment and property will need to be performed immediately, before any evidence may be repaired, damaged or destroyed.
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