A woman was shot at the Forest at Columbia Apartments in Decatur, Georgia on Saturday, July 9, 2022. Police have stated that the victim, a 36-year-old woman was shot while inside her apartment by strangers outside of her apartment. The victim has been transported to a local area hospital but remains in critical condition.
The Forest at Columbia Apartments are located at 2505 Columbia Drive, Decatur, GA 30034, and are, unfortunately, no stranger to local news outlets. Only one week ago, owners gave more than 200 tenants notice that their leases will be terminated, claiming that the repairs needed are so extensive and the crime so bad, that they need to evict everyone.
Just last month, at least 5 residents were seriously injured in a major fire that destroyed one of the buildings of the Forest at Columbia Apartments.
Reports of gunfire are regular at the Apartment Complex, with one recent incident just a few months ago terrifying residents when bullets tore through tenants’ windows.
Even reviews from tenants reflect the dangerous condition of the Forest at Columbia Apartments, with one review stating:
“911 is tired of the calls and the police are tired of coming out. If you want peace and quite with respect from your neighbors then this is not the place for you.”
Another states:
“When it comes to safety these apartments gets a 0. The security gate at entrance have not worked in years. There are people hanging out all times of the night and to see your residence on t.v ok that speaks for itself.”
Although little is known about the circumstances leading to the shooting on July 9, the victim of this incident may have a legal claim, especially given the dangerous history of this apartment complex.
Investigation and Questions
Because details are so limited, many important questions remain about this incident. As they pertain to a civil case, important questions and areas of investigation might include:
Did the victim and the shooters know each other or have a prior history?
Did the shooter have a significant criminal history?
Was the shooter a tenant or a known person at this apartment complex?
What security measures were in place at the Apartment Complex?
Where, precisely, were shots fired from?
What were the shooters intending to shoot?
These questions can help begin painting a clearer picture of why this incident occurred and whether it should have been prevented. As gun violence, continues to be a problem in this apartment complex, answers and understanding can help prevent future gun violence in the community.
How to Prevent Violence and Crime at Apartment Complexes?
Legal contributor Attorney Danny Dalton, an experienced wrongful death lawyer, has represented many families of those killed or injured by the actions or negligence of others. Mr. Dalton offered the following commentary on this situation:
“Owners and property managers can and should take reasonable steps to help prevent violence on their properties – for example, adequate lighting, controlled-access gates, fences, courtesy officers, security patrols, off-duty officers, trespass lists, and cameras can all help to deter crime. It is also important for property owners to request and monitor crime data to get a better idea of what is happening at and around the property so that they can evaluate what security measures are necessary. Owners and managers should request for the 9-1-1 calls for service logs, crime grids, and actual police reports. You can’t prevent all crime, but property owners should certainly take steps to discourage it from occurring on the property and risking tenants.”
Mickelsen Dalton LLC
An experienced attorney at Mickelsen Dalton LLC can help determine if you have a claim and advise you of your options. Our attorneys have successfully represented dozens of gunshot and assault victims. Within the past three years, Mickelsen Dalton LLC has recovered over $30 million in verdicts and settlements on behalf of our clients. We have been featured in Fox News, the New York Times, the Washington Post, and several other national news organizations.
We are tireless investigators that will do what it takes to get to the truth and fight for you and your loved ones. Anyone may contact our attorneys for a free consultation at (843) 804-0428 or by email at help@mickelsendalton.com.
Disclaimer:
Past results are not a guarantee of future results. The information contained in this post is from news articles and may therefore contain inaccuracies. We will correct or remove this post upon request. The material contained in this post is not intended to constitute legal advice.
