Man Shot, Killed in Hidden Woods Apartments Robbery

Could the owners of the Hidden Woods apartments in DeKalb County be held civilly liable in the shooting death of a man at the complex?

Police say a man was shot inside their apartment in the Hidden Woods apartments in DeKalb County, Georgia. A neighbor heard a struggle and multiple shots fired before she called the police.

The victim escaped his apartment where he was found by police and transported to the hospital for medical treatment. He later died from his injuries.

The victim has not yet been identified and the incident remains under investigation. While the police have yet to announce a motive, the neighbor heard rummaging in the unit and suspects there was a robbery underway.

Georgia Negligent Security Law

When apartment management disregards potential criminal activity, maintenance issues, or security threats, and fails to take important steps to protect residents and visitors from those dangers, they could be encouraging a situation that invites more crime. In Georgia, landlords are obligated to take necessary security precautions to deter potential crimes, and they run the danger of legal consequences if they don't.

The good news is that apartment complexes that install visible security cameras, secure perimeter fencing with working access-controlled gates, adequate lighting, and when the presence of criminal activity warrants, hire a private security guard has been shown to reduce violent crime.

A History of Crime at the Hidden Woods Apartments

This is not the first time a man was shot and killed at the Hidden Woods Apartments community. On September 27, 2021, a man was shot to death inside his car on the premises.

Residents' worries about violent crime, auto burglaries, and inadequate maintenance are echoed in online reviews. Management is “not quick about fixing things,” states one review and that there is “no security on property.”

“It’s more police then usual in this complex,” writes another resident who also worries about violent activity in the complex. “They hang outside and shoot at night or even in the day.”

Only Crime Victims or Their Relatives Can Demand Justice

Property owners in Georgia are required by law to take reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable crimes. By disregarding violent crimes that take place in their community, apartment building managers may contribute to a cycle of violence.

The police can detain criminals and bring them to justice, but there isn't much they can do to compel property owners to take steps to prevent crime on their property – nor can they compensate the families of the victims.

Only the survivors of violent crime, or the victim's family, can file a civil lawsuit against property owners and managers. Even though it would never be able to entirely make up for the suffering brought on by a violent criminal attack, a civil judgment can help with expenditures like medical bills and missed wages as well as act as a first step toward healing.

When victims get a significant monetary settlement, property owners and managers might be pushed to take necessary precautions to deter such violent crimes on their property.

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