‘Why do we have to live in fear?’ Residents say repeated gunfire has them afraid in their homes

Bullet holes in windows, walls, pillars and even bricks are visible signs of what residents at a DeKalb County apartment complex say has become a persistent and frightening problem.

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Several residents at the Highlands at East Atlanta told Channel 2’s Eryn Rogers they have become accustomed to hearing gunfire around their homes. Some say they are now afraid to stay in their apartments or allow their children to play outside.

“You never know when to duck and dodge because you never know when they’re going to shoot,” resident Antoinette Holmes said.

Sheronda Glenn said the shootings have become so frequent that she sometimes leaves the complex just to feel safe.

“Ever since I’ve been out there, shoot out, shoot out, shoot out, shoot out. It’s enough,” Glenn said.

She met Rogers in another neighborhood because she said she was afraid to stay at her apartment.

“That’s where I call my home. It’s my safe place. It’s my peace. I have to leave all that behind to get out there, to come to my momma house to feel protected, to feel safe, and to get some sleep,” Glenn said.

Another resident, Kamilia Lofton, spoke to Rogers over FaceTime while she was at work. She said she sends her children to their grandmother’s house because of the violence.

“They can’t go outside. They can’t play. It’s shootings every day,” Lofton said.

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Several other neighbors said the gunfire is not limited to nighttime.

Residents shared videos from recent weeks showing police responding to the complex at night. Another video showed crime scene tape surrounding an area near the playground during the day.

Residents showed Rogers damage from bullets entering buildings.

“It came through my wall and hit my window. Thank God. God with us,” Glenn said.

Residents said they believe some of the people involved in the shootings are teenagers. They also said people sometimes fire over a wall into the apartment complex.

“These are kids that are 13, 14, 15 years old,” Lofton said.

A DeKalb County police crime map showed officers have responded to dozens of calls at the complex over the past six months. Those calls included incidents categorized as homicide, robbery, aggravated assault and vehicle theft.

DeKalb County police also told Channel 2 Action News they received a couple calls to the apartment complex over the weekend and are still investigating a shooting that happened at the end of October.

“I don’t feel safe in my house,” Holmes said.

Neighbors said they want additional steps taken to make the property safer, including repairing a broken entry gate and increasing security.

“Y’all could put barbed wires on the walls, and y’all could hire better security,” Holmes said.

Rogers reached out to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development about the property, called the property managers several times and went to the management office seeking answers.

So far, Channel 2 Action News has not received an answer explaining what, if anything, is being done to improve security at the complex.

“They’re still walking freely, and we’re still out here stressed out, gotta duck and dodge,” Holmes said.

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