Man fatally shot at Atlanta's Capitol View Apartments

Could the Capitol View apartment owners’ negligent actions lead to civil liability for a fatal shooting on the property?

A man was killed after an overnight shooting in southwest Atlanta. Atlanta police received a call to the Capitol View apartments just after midnight on November 6th. When they arrived at the complex, they found a man deceased from a gunshot wound.

The victim has been identified as Tavares Boyd. It is currently unsure whether the victim lived at the complex or was visiting, but police said it seems the shooting started with an argument that got worse. Then someone pulled out a gun and started firing shots.

The apartment complex had just been fixed up and reopened in September 2022 with a goal to keep them affordable for people to live there.

Is this Negligent Security under Georgia law?

Georgia's state law requires property owners to take appropriate safety steps if there's a chance of crime happening on their property. They should be adding protective measures like security cameras, having security guards around, installing gates that control who gets in and out, and maybe even having a guard station at the entrance.

When property owners and managers follow these rules, they can help stop violent crimes from happening in their apartment complex. If they don't, they could end up in legal trouble if a crime does happen on their property.

It's really important for property owners and management companies to know what they're responsible for under Georiga’s negligent security law and to keep up with these basic safety enhancements. By doing this, they're making their apartment communities a safer place to live.

A History of Negligence at the Capitol View Apartments

The Capitol View Apartments and surrounding area has been the site of multiple violent crimes including shootings. In May 2019, a man was shot and killed at the complex. Earlier this year a shooting left one man dead on a nearby street.

Only Crime Victims or Their Relatives Can Demand Justice

In Georgia, property owners must take steps to prevent crime. If landlords and managers ignore nearby criminal incidents, they might be contributing to ongoing violence.

Law enforcement plays a key role in catching and prosecuting criminals, but they can't force property owners to reduce crime or compensate victims' families.

Victims or their families are the ones who can sue property owners or managers. While money can't undo the harm of violent crime, winning a lawsuit can help cover medical bills and lost wages, starting the healing process.

Importantly, large financial penalties in such cases can push property owners and managers to implement better security to prevent future crimes.

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