Man, 21, is seriously wounded in shooting at the MAV at North Macon Apartments

Could the shooting of a 21-year-old man at the MAV at North Macon expose the complex’s owners to a civil lawsuit? 

A tragic early afternoon shooting at the MAV at North Macon apartment complex earlier this month left the victim in critical condition. The victim was treated at the scene by emergency personnel, then taken to the hospital for further care.

Police investigators have arrested three in connection with the shooting. However, they are looking for additional witnesses or information about what led to the shooting as more charges are pending.

Georgia Negligent Security Law

Negligent security is when a property owner or manager doesn’t take enough steps to keep their property safe. This can lead to people getting hurt or killed while they’re on the property. Some examples of negligent security are not having enough lights in a parking lot, not fixing a broken lock on a door, and not having enough security patrols to watch over the property.

In Georgia, if there’s a reasonable chance that a crime might happen at an apartment complex, the law says that the property owners have to take steps to make sure everyone is safe. Landlords might have to do things like put up security cameras that are easy to see, hire security guards to be on-site, put up a fence around the complex with gates that only approved guests can get through, or even have someone watching over the parking garage and entrance gate.

A History of Negligence at MAV at North Macon Apartments

In 2020, the same apartment complex was the scene of a fatal shooting when 22-year-old Douglas Stevenson was shot several times and killed in his car.

Online reviews contain a list of safety and security problems that property managers fail to solve. “There is always constant drug activity in the back unit of the community,” says one resident. “There are no security cameras,” they continued.

Another resident writes, “It’s a total mess…. A joke, no security, very dangerous.”

“Please do not move here,” says one former resident to other families looking at the property. “In the year we lived there, there were 12 gunshots fired, as well as many break-ins. The cops barely ever showed to solve the issue.… I’m glad we moved out of there as soon as possible.”

Only Crime Victims or Their Relatives Can Demand Justice

Georgia landlords have a legal responsibility to keep their properties safe from foreseeable crimes. But some landlords don’t do this, and this can lead to more violence.

Police officers may be able to catch people who commit crimes, but they can’t force landlords to make their properties safer or pay money to the people who were hurt.

If someone is seriously injured because of a crime at an apartment complex, only the person who was hurt and their family can try to get justice by suing the landlord in court. The money they get from the lawsuit might not be enough to make everything better, but it can help pay for things like doctor bills and lost wages.

It’s surprising, but sometimes the idea of losing a lot of money in a lawsuit is what makes landlords start taking safety more seriously. This is sometimes how a good thing can be the result of a bad situation.

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