Shooting at American Inn & Suites in Jonesboro, GA Leaves One Wounded

Does the owner of American Inn & Suites motel in Jonesboro, GA face legal liability after a shooting left one seriously injured hotel?  

A shooting at a Clayton County motel left one person in critical condition on Thursday afternoon, police said.

Officers were called to the American Inn & Suites motel in the 6300 block of Old Dixie Highway in Joneseboro, Georgia after receiving a 911 call at about 1 p.m. The caller reported that a person had been shot.

When officers arrived, they found the victim, who was taken to a hospital in critical condition. The victim's identity has not been released.

Police said the shooting occurred both inside a room and outside the motel. They have not released any other details about the incident, but are asking for anyone with information to come forward.

Georgia Negligent Security Law

In Georgia, hotel and motel owners, particularly those with weekly rentals, carry a significant duty: they must ensure that sufficient security measures are in place if criminal activity has been detected on or near their premises. Customer ID checks, preventing undesired individuals, fencing the premises, installing visible security cameras, deploying on-site security officers, and ensuring well-lit surroundings are all part of these efforts. According to research, these actions are capable of lowering violent crime.

A History of Negligence at the American Inn & Suites

In July 2020, a man was shot at the motel while inside his car. In May of this year, police SWAT teams had a standoff with a man who fired two shots while at the American Inn & Suites. The next month, a man was shot and murdered at the motel and three men were arrested. The motel also has a history of being used for sex trafficking.

Guests of the American Inn & Suites motel have written online reviews that say there are problems with safety at the property including drug activity. “there is a lot of drug activity and the staff knows about it,” said one review.

Only Crime Victims or Their Family Can Demand Justice

In Georgia, hotel and motel owners are responsible for ensuring the safety of their premises against potential criminal incidents. Failure to address such concerns risks perpetuating a criminal cycle.

While law enforcement has the right to apprehend criminals, they do not have the authority to compel hotel or motel owners to prevent crime or pay victims' families.

Only survivors or victims' families have the legal right to sue property owners and management businesses in the aftermath of a violent crime. A civil verdict can help with expenditures like medical bills and missed wages, which is an important step toward healing, but it cannot totally compensate for the tremendous pain caused by violent crime.

Importantly, owners and management often hesitate to take preventive measures until they face significant legal consequences, highlighting a potential reluctance to address security concerns.

Together we can Make Georgia Safe, one community at a time.