Two Killed at Columbia at Peoplestown

Could the owners and manager of Columbia at Peoplestown be liable for the homicide of two victims on their premises?

A 46-year-old man and a 40-year-old woman died at Columbia at Peoplestown after suffering gunshot wounds. Police responded after complaints of gunshots and screaming at approximately 7 A.M. Saturday morning. The police determined that someone else was in the home who had left. Investigators have not released the names of the victims or of any possible suspects; however, they did state that this was an isolated incident.

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. Visible security cameras, adequate lighting, and fencing with gates that automatically close after admitting residents are all steps which may be required by landlords to curtail crime on their property.

Resident Concerns at Colombia at Peoplestown

Online reviews express concerns over the living conditions, mismanagement, and criminals accessing the property. One reviewer writes “Apartments are mold ridden . . . it is absolutely awful,” and states that the office manager enjoys her job because “Colombia [at Peoplestown] pays her not to fix things.” A resident tells a story of the time a gun and valuable earrings were discovered stolen from her apartment after a visit from building maintenance. Another warns that residents will “never have any privacy,” and “if this is supposed to be a gated community . . . why are the gates always open?”

Only Crime Victims Can Demand Justice

Police can only do so much to prevent violent crime. When management and owners of apartment communities fail to take reasonable precautions to address known security issues, 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. By filing a lawsuit, 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.