Man Killed in Shooting at the Creekside Vista Apartments

What is the landlord's responsibility when violent crime occurs on their property?

No details were released by police after a man was shot and killed at the Creekside Vista Apartment Complex near Decatur. It may be assumed that the investigation is ongoing. Sadly, in many cases, the shooter is never identified by police, but that does not mean that the families of violent crime victims have no legal options for pursuing justice.

Negligent Security Law

When property owners ignore obvious criminal behavior and fail to take efforts to keep control of who has access to their property, they may be creating an environment that invites additional crime. Under Georgia law, property owners may be held liable if they do not take reasonable measures to prevent foreseeable crimes.

Security Concerns at Creekside Vista

Several online reviews complain about access controls at the property. One resident claims that the “gate stays open for weeks.” Another says, “the gate is always open.” One reviewer writes, “I have lived here for 5 months and had several car break ins and nothing was done.”

Only Crime Victims Can Demand Justice

When management and owners of apartment communities fail to take reasonable precautions to address known security, they could be held liable for violent crime that occurs on their property. It is up to the families of the victims to use the civil courts to demand justice. They may be able to get a monetary recovery for their loss, and more importantly, they’ll put pressure on landlords to implement security measures that can help prevent a similar tragedy from happening to someone else. In this way we can help Make Atlanta Safe, one community at a time.