The Legal Chronicle
Green Gables Apartments Shooting in Ocala, FL Leaves Three Children Injured. (Ocala.com)
Did negligent security contribute to the shooting at an Ocala apartment complex and are justice and compensation available to the victims? Read Our Legal Take below to find out what legal options are available.
LOCAL NEWS
Two teens and another child were injured in a shooting at an Ocala, Florida apartment complex Friday night, January 3, 2020.
As reported by Ocala.com, “[p]olice officials…received a call about shots fired at 9 p.m. Friday at Green Gables Apartments, a two-story complex at 2600 SW 10th St.”
According to the report, when officers arrived they found three children who had been shot. “[t]he 16-year-old girl was shot in the leg; the 15-year-old boy was hit in the arm; and the youngest victim, a 10-year-old girl, was grazed on the leg by a bullet.”
Per the report, “the boy was playing basketball on the basketball court and the girls were in the play area, which is just yards away, when they were shot.”
Bullets also struck two nearby apartments.
The investigation is ongoing, no suspects have been identified.
OUR LEGAL TAKE
Residents and guests of apartment complexes have a right to feel safe and secure while on the premises. The level of security provided at the apartment complex is of significance, and is a relevant consideration when analyzing whether this shooting may have been prevented. The following questions are also important in assessing whether this incident may have been avoided:
- What security measures were in place to deter crime and protect the victims at the time of the shooting?
- Have there been prior incidents of violence on the property, and were any security measures added after any prior incidents?
- Was the complex aware of any suspicious persons or suspicious activity on the property prior to the shooting?
Property owners are generally required to protect against foreseeable harm to anyone and everyone legally on the premises. Should the investigation into this incident reveal facts that establish that the apartment complex owner or management lacked adequate security to protect its residents and visitors, the victims may seek justice and elect to pursue legal claims and substantial compensation for their injuries.
The Murray Law Firm has extensive and successful experience in handling security negligence claims on behalf of victims and their families, and suggests that an immediate, unbiased inspection of the property will need to be performed so as to limit evidence from being altered, damaged or destroyed. The complexities of pursuing a negligent security case are well understood by the legal team at The Murray Law Firm, and it is imperative that the victims retain a capable law firm who will work without delay to protect their interests.
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The Murray Law Firm has a long history of representing victims of violence and security negligence. We have obtained over $100 Million in verdicts and settlements for our Clients, including a $29.25 million dollar verdict for a victim of an unsafe property. We offer our legal assistance, if desired.
We represent our Clients on a contingency agreement, which generally means that no fees or payments are owed until and unless we recover. Anyone seeking further information or legal representation is encouraged to contact us via e-mail (click here) or by telephone at 888.842.1616. Consultations are free and confidential.
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