Man Shot and Killed at Manor III Apartments in SW Atlanta

After a man is fatally shot at the Manor III Apartment complex, could the property owners be found responsible in a civil court?

Police are calling the death of a man at the Manor III Apartments in Southwest Atlanta a homicide. After reports of a shooting in the 1400 block of Arthur Langford Jr. Place, police found the body of a man with at least one gunshot wound.

Although the name of the victim has not yet been released, it is believed he was between the age of 35 and 40 years old. According to police, he was targeted when exiting his car in the parking lot.

Georgia Negligent Security Law

Georgia state law requires apartment owners to take adequate security measures if crime is a concern that can be foreseen on the property. Landlords and property managers may be forced to implement reasonable security measures, such as conspicuous surveillance cameras, on-site security, perimeter fencing with access-controlled gates, and even a guard station at the entrance gate, to address crime at the complex.

A History of Crime at the Manor III Apartments

Online reviews detail the concerns of residents over crime, pests, mold and poor maintenance. When a landlord is unwilling to provide timely service for maintenance concerns or keep the property properly maintained, it could signal that they are just as resistant to addressing security concerns on their property.

After an apartment was broken into, it took three weeks to fix the door, wrote one reviewer. Police told him, “he might want to move.” Another resident reported their apartment “was broken into twice” and “they constantly heard gunshots.”

Only Crime Victims Can Seek Justice

When apartment complexes serve as safe havens for criminals, law enforcement can only do so much to apprehend offenders and bring them to justice.

Apartment complex managers can be held accountable if they fail to take action against the crime plaguing their neighborhood. Victims' families, as well as survivors of violent crimes, can file a lawsuit in a civil court.

By filing a lawsuit, they may be able to collect financial compensation for their losses, but more importantly, they will put pressure on landlords to institute security measures that can prevent another family from experiencing a similar tragedy.

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