Georgia Legal Report
WTOC.com
Fatal Security Lapse? Our Legal Take: 3 Shot in Savannah Apartment Shooting
Did negligent security contribute to this triple shooting? Read Our Legal Take to find out if the if the victims and their families may have a legal avenue for justice and a claim for compensation.
Local News
A shooting at the Live Oak Apartments in Savannah reportedly claimed the life of 22-year-old Josh Lewis and left two others injured Sunday, July 24, 2016. WTOC.com reports that “three people were shot outside of the Live Oak Apartments on Waters Avenue near Montgomery Crossroad early Sunday morning.”
WJCL News 22 reports, “Josh Lewis and George Thorpe were found with gunshot wounds when officers arrived at the Live Oak Apartment Complex at about 2:30 a.m. on Sunday. [Mr.] Lewis was taken to Memorial University Medical Center where he died from his injuries. [Mr.] Thorpe was treated for non-life threatening injuries.” A third victim was apparently transported to the hospital in a private vehicle. His condition has not been released.
According to the WJCL.com report, “[p]olice believe the three men were outside an apartment when they were shot.”
Our Legal Take
Apartment residents and guests have a right to feel safe and secure while on the premises. The Murray Law Firm questions the level of security provided to those at the apartment complex and whether this shooting may have been prevented.
July 2016 Crime Map (spotcrime.com)
How did a gunman gain entry to the property? What security measures, such as gated-entry, fencing, bright lighting, surveillance cameras, and security patrols, were in place to protect residents and guests at the time of the shooting?
- 2016 crime reports from Spotcrime.com reveal a number of assaults in the surrounding area. Was the apartment complex aware of any prior criminal activity on or near the property? If so, were additional security precautions implemented by the property 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 apartment complex owner or management company failed to provide adequate security, the family of Mr. Lewis may elect to seek justice and pursue a legal claim for his wrongful death. Additionally, Mr. Thorpe and the other victim of this shooting may elect to pursue claims for their injuries.
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.
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