27-Year Old Shot at Hidden Village Apartments While Intervening in an Auto Theft
Officers were directed to the Hidden Village Apartments located on Landrum Drive by a report to 911 of a shooting. While details are still limited, reports indicate that a 27-year-old male, who was working security, was shot while trying to interrupt an auto theft in progress.
Fortunately, the victim was reported to be alert, conscious, and breathing. He was rushed to a nearby hospital to receive care for his injuries. Law enforcement believe the suspect fled immediately after the shooting and remains unidentified. They encourage anyone with information that may lead to an arrest to come forward.
Given the circumstances surrounding the incident, can the property owners of the Hidden Village apartment complex be found liable?
How Georgia’s Negligent Security Law Applies
In Georgia, property owners have a legal responsibility to ensure reasonable precautions are put in place to protect tenants, employees, and visitors from foreseeable criminal activity. When they fail to implement basic security measures, they may be held liable under the state’s negligent security law. This is especially true in areas with known/documented occurrences of criminal activity.
Negligent security occurs when property owners do not take adequate steps to prevent crime on their premises. This can include failing to monitor the property entrances/exits, maintaining proper lighting conditions in parking lots, or neglecting to repair broken fences, doors, and locks. If these security failures are attributed to a violent crime committed on property, victims have the right to seek legal action and hold property owners accountable for their negligence.
By taking proactive steps to prevent the likelihood of criminal activity, however, property owners can reduce the risk of crime and fulfill their legal duty to provide a safe environment. Whether they choose to install surveillance cameras, improve access control, or conduct regular safety inspections, they can work to deter would-be criminals from violating the property and its tenants. Ignoring these responsibilities not only endangers the lives of others, but exposes the property owners to significant legal and financial consequences.
A History of Gun Violence Reveals a Pattern of Gross Negligence
According to Research conducted by the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the site of Hidden Village Apartments has been reported to have had at least 121 crimes from 2017 through July 2023. In May of 2024, Jerell Battle, 20, was shot and killed. Just one month prior, in April of 2024, an 18-year-old sustained a gunshot wound to his back.
The list continues. 5 people were shot, leaving one killed in April of 2019. Then, in July of 2019, 21-year-old Ralph Burras was shot and killed on complex property. Approximately two weeks later, the complex was targeted again. As early as February 2013, however, the complex has reported incidents of gun violence. With such an egregious display of criminal activity on property grounds, it baffles the mind how the apartment complex, formerly known as Villages of Cascade, can remain operational in this present day.
The AJC also writes of severe code violations and maintenance issues, including but not limited to: rats, roaches, snakes, and other pest infestations; ceilings caving in; bullet holes; leaks; open and vacant units; stagnant water; electrical issues; lack of AC; and windows shot out.
Online reviews confirm the continued existence of these issues. One reviewer states, “Let’s not speak on all the shootings and other outrageous stuff that happens there. I hate it.” Another writes, “I’ve been living in this community since 2018 and it has gone from bad to worse!” Yet another former resident warns, “Please do not move here!! I vacated my unit early due to infestion(sic), safety issues, poor management, poor maintenance.”
How Do We Demand Justice?
When victims suffer due to negligent security, they are often left to deal with the emotional, physical, and financial burdens on their own. While law enforcement can investigate and prosecute criminal offenders, they do not have the power to hold negligent property owners accountable for failing to prevent foreseeable dangers. There is, however, a means for victims and their families to seek the justice they deserve.
Seeking justice through a civil action against the property and its owners allows for victims to demand accountability from property owners who failed in their legal duty to provide a safe and secure environment. A successful claim can provide much-needed compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and emotional trauma. More importantly, though, taking legal action signals to property owners that they must take security seriously, or face serious legal consequences.
Victims and their families must be the ones to come forward and pursue legal action against negligent security. Far beyond individual compensation, these actions are what help prevent future tragedies. Because, when negligent property owners are held accountable, they’re forced to implement stronger security measures, consequently taking the safety of the community seriously.
Together we can Make Georgia Safe, one community at a time.