A female student was robbed at gunpoint on the campus of Clark Atlanta University, raising questions as to whether inadequate security on campus contributed to the event. Campus police called the Atlanta Police Department after hearing about the incident.
The young victim said that four young men approached her and one of the men held a gun to her head. He threatened to shoot her if she did not comply with their demand, which was for her to hand over all her belongings. Although robberies at Clark Atlanta University are not common, nearby Georgia Tech and Georgia State University have increased police presence on campus to decrease the number of robberies.
The robbery victim is emotionally distressed and is considering not returning to the university. She lives in a dormitory on campus, and her mother has stated that the college needs to be more proactive in protecting the student population.
Commercial centers, private residences and public institutions are all expected to provide a safe environment for individuals who are lawfully on the property. If a person is injured due to an unreasonable risk of harm or lack of adequate security, the property owner may be held liable in a premises liability case.
If an individual sustains a personal injury or is attacked by a third party, the victim can seek damages for medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering. The landowner’s knowledge of unsafe conditions is usually an important element in these types of cases. A victim may wish to retain the services of a personal injury attorney, who will investigate the case and the role of the landowner’s negligence.
Source: Cascade Patch, “Female Clark Atlanta Student Robbed at Gunpoint on Campus,” Marc Richardson, Nov. 14, 2012