Fatal Security Lapse? Our Legal Take: 2 Killed in Decatur Hotel Shooting
Did negligent security contribute to the deaths of these two young brothers? Read Our Legal Take to find out if the victims’ family may have a claim for compensation.
Local News
Derrick and Johnathon Shields were reportedly killed in a shooting at the Affordable Hotel in Decatur Thursday morning, June 2, 2016.
According to CBS 46 News, the two brothers were fatally shot “at the Affordable Hotel on the 1900 block of Glenfair Road in Decatur,” around 2:00am. Officers apparently discovered the young men “inside a second-floor room,” per media reports.
Police have not yet identified a suspect or motive. The hotel has an alleged history of gun-violence, including shootings reported by media outlets in January 2014 and February 2015.
Our Legal Take
Hotel guests have a right to feel safe and secure while on the premises. Given the reported history of gun-related activity on property, The Murray Law Firm questions the level of security provided to those at the hotel and whether this shooting may have been prevented.
- How did the gunman gain entry to the second floor hotel room? What security measures, such as bright lighting, surveillance cameras, deadbolts, and security patrols, were in place to protect guests at the time of the shooting?
- Following any prior incidents of violence on property, were any additional security precautions implemented by the hotel owner or management to deter crime?
By law, property owners in Georgia are required to protect all those legally on the premises from any foreseeable harm. Should the facts of this matter reveal that the hotel owner or management failed to provide adequate security, the family of Derrick and Johnathon Shields may elect to seek justice and pursue legal claims for their wrongful deaths.
Based upon its long, extensive, and successful experience in handling negligent security cases against property owners in the State of Georgia, The Murray Law Firm suggests that photographs and a thorough, unbiased inspection of the property will need to be performed immediately, before any evidence may be repaired, damaged or destroyed.
We Fight for Victims of Hotel Security Negligence in Georgia…Contact us Now for a Free Consultation.
We represent our Clients on a contingency agreement, which generally means that no fees or payments are owed until and unless we recover. Anyone seeking further information or legal representation is encouraged to contact us via e-mail (click here) or by telephone at 404.842.1600. Consultations are free and confidential.
Choosing the Right Attorney
Selecting the right attorney for you or your family is highly important. You must feel confident that the attorney you hire has a complete understanding of the law applicable to your particular case, and has successful experience in handling such cases.
Important: Do not hire a lawyer who has violated the Rules of Professional Conduct!!!
You should not hire an attorney who calls you or visits you unsolicited, or anyone that contacts you directly to offer legal services. This activity is strictly prohibited by Rule 7.3 of the American Bar Association (ABA) Model Rules of Professional Conduct, which states as follows:
– RULE 7.3, ABA MODEL RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT.
If an attorney, or someone acting on behalf of an attorney, contacts you in this manner, that attorney is in violation of this Rule. This unethical and unprofessional activity on the part of the lawyer is good sign that you should stay away. It is imperative that you are represented by an attorney who is capable of advocating for you within the confines of the law, and an attorney who fails to abide by the Rules of Professional Conduct is probably not the best fit. In fact, any such attorney should be immediately reported to the local State Bar Association. If you have been contacted in such an unsolicited manner, contact us and we’ll assist you in filing a report.
Contingency Fees Disclaimer: “Contingent attorneys’ fees refers only to those fees charged by attorneys for their legal services. Such fees are not permitted in all types of cases. Court costs and other additional expenses of legal action usually must be paid by the client.”