The Legal Herald
(ABC 13)
Apartment Security Failure? Our Legal Take: Teen Killed in Deaverview Apartment Shooting
Local News
A shooting at the Deaverview Apartments in Asheville reportedly claimed the life of a 17-year-old young man Wednesday, February 17, 2016.
According to WXII 12, police responded to a “shooting at the Deaverview Apartments” around 1:00pm Tuesday afternoon. The 17-year-old victim, an Erwin High School football player, apparently suffered a gunshot wound to the head. With respect to possible suspects, the Citizen-Times reports that authorities suggest that they “do have some persons of interest.”
Our Legal Take
Residents and guests of apartment complexes have a right to feel safe and secure within the community. Given the recent history of crime in the area, The Murray Law Firm questions the level of security provided at the Deaverview apartment complex, and whether this tragedy may have been prevented.
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February 2016 Crime Map (spotcrime.com)
How did the gunman gain entry to the property? What security measures, such as gated-entry, surveillance cameras and security patrols, were in place at the time of the shooting?
- Recent crime reports reveal a number of area crimes. Have any additional security precautions been implemented by the apartment complex owner or management to deter such crime?
Generally, property owners are required to protect all residents legally on the premises from any foreseeable harm. Should the facts of this matter reveal that the apartment complex owner or management company failed to provide adequate security to protect those on its premises, the family of the young victim may seek justice and elect to pursue a legal claim for his wrongful death.
Given the complexities of pursuing a negligent security case, it is imperative that the victim’s family retain an experienced attorney who can ensure the preservation of any and all evidence that may support such a claim. Based upon its prior experience in handling apartment security negligence claims, The Murray Law Firm suggests that photographs and a thorough, unbiased inspection of the property will need to be performed immediately, before any evidence may be repaired, damaged or destroyed.
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The Murray Law Firm has an extensive and successful record representing victims of violence and security negligence. We have recovered millions of dollars for our Clients, and recently obtained a $29.25 million dollar verdict for a victim of an unsafe property. We offer our legal assistance, if desired.
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