1 Dead, 1 Injured in Shooting at Mableton Ridge

Could the owners of the Mableton Ridge apartment complex be liable for the death of one and injury of another when gun violence ignited on the property?

County police responded to the Mableton Ridge apartment complex after midnight on December 13, 2021. They found one man unconscious and another injured. The man who was unconscious was declared dead at the scene, while the other was rushed to a hospital. Police have released few details, with the identities of the victims, or any possible suspects, still unknown.

Negligent Security Law

When property owners ignore incidents of crime on their premises and fail to take the security precautions needed to protect residents and guests from crime threats, they can be held liable for damages in the wake of violent crime. . In Georgia, the law says landlords must take reasonable measures to prevent foreseeable crimes and protect their residents. Improved lighting, access controlled gates, visible security cameras, and when warranted, live security guards are proven to make a property less attractive to violent criminals.

Resident Concerns at Mableton Ridge

Often, when property owners fail to address basic maintenance issues, it can be a sign that they are neglecting security concerns as well. Online reviews of Mableton Ridge demonstrate resident concerns over maintenance and pest problems. One reviewer writes “we have put in several requests to maintenance to fix [our] ac and in three months it has yet to be resolved.” They also complain of cockroaches and a mildew smell. A longtime resident also tells a long tale of maintenance issues surrounding kitchen and bathroom appliances. He writes that management “moved … like a reckless moving train,” and “decided to be unprofessional.” The resident then goes on to describe how an improper eviction notice was dropped off at his home, which he was only able to resolve after demanding to see his resident file himself. With the file in hand, he was finally able to show his blamelessness and was vindicated.

Only Crime Victims Can Demand Justice

It is up to the families of the victims, and the survivors, of violent crimes to use the civil courts to demand justice. By filing a lawsuit, they may be able to win a monetary recovery for their loss, and more importantly, they may 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.