Georgia Legal Report
Shooting Investigation at Atlanta Street Apartments Aug 2014 (WSBTV 2)
Negligent Security? Our Legal Take: Atlanta Street Shootings, Gainesville
Did negligent security contribute to the shootings of two young men, only days apart? Read Our Legal Take to find out if the victims may have legal claims for compensation.
Local News
Two shootings outside an apartment complex on Atlanta Street in less than a week have left two young men injured and raise grave security questions for residents of the area.
According to The Gainesville Times, 25-year-old David Anthony King was reportedly shot “around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday on Atlanta Street.” Mr. King was transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center with “non-fatal” injuries, per media reports. His current condition has not been released.
The second shooting “occurred after 10:00 p.m. Sunday on Atlanta Street,” The Gainesville Times reports. 19-year-old Lynquavius Fortson suffered “a single, non-fatal gunshot wound” in what appears to have been a drive-by shooting.
Police are still searching for suspects in both cases, presumably leaving residents concerned for the safety of their families. Media reports indicate shootings occurred at the same complex in June 2015 and August 2014.
Our Legal Take
Apartment residents and guests have a right to feel safe and secure while on the premises. Given the reported history of local gun violence, The Murray Law Firm questions the level of security provided to those at the apartment complex and whether these shootings may have been prevented.
- How did the gunmen 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 at the time of the shooting?
- Following reports of a prior gun-related activity on or near the property, were any additional security precautions implemented by the apartment complex owner or management company 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, Mr. King and Mr. Fortson may elect to seek justice and pursue legal 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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