Key Takeaways
- Two men were shot and killed at the Hidden Pines Apartments on Cushman Circle in southwest Atlanta just over 36 hours apart, on September 27 and September 29, 2026.
- Residents told reporters they had complained about a lack of security at the property long before these killings, and that children can no longer play outside safely.
- Families who lose a loved one in an apartment shooting may have legal options if inadequate security or a failure to take reasonable precautions against a foreseeable risk of violence contributed to the incident.
Two Men Killed in Shootings at Southwest Atlanta Apartment Complex
Atlanta police responded at about 1:41 p.m. on Sunday, September 27, to a report of a person shot on Cushman Circle SW, where they learned that Elijah Brookshire had been shot and loaded into a car to be driven to Grady Memorial Hospital, according to FOX 5 Atlanta. The driver pulled over on Michael Langford Drive SW after noticing Brookshire was no longer breathing, and emergency personnel pronounced him dead there.
Police say Brookshire was shot on the property of the complex, according to WSB-TV, and he was shot following an argument while children were playing nearby in broad daylight, FOX 5 Atlanta reported. Investigators have offered a reward of up to $5,000 for information about his death, 11Alive reported.
About 36 hours later, officers were called back to the same complex. At around 3:20 a.m. on Tuesday, September 29, police responded to the Hidden Pines Apartments on Cushman Circle and found 21-year-old D’Juan Hill suffering from a gunshot wound outside Building G. Officers attempted lifesaving measures, but Hill was pronounced dead at the scene.
Atlanta News First crews reported that police were still searching for the suspect in the September 27 shooting while homicide investigators worked to determine the circumstances, according to Atlanta News First. As of the time of this writing, police have made no arrests in either case, have not released suspect details or identified potential motives, and have said they do not know whether the two shootings are related, according to WSB-TV.
Residents described growing concerns about repeated violence and security at the property. One resident told FOX 5 Atlanta that “when the kids are out here playing, they shoot in broad daylight.” Another said she feared for her family and did not think the complex was a safe environment for children to be raised in. The station reported that safety concerns at the property long predated these killings, with neighbors having previously complained about a lack of security there. Serenity Gripper, another neighbor, told WSB-TV that shootings on the property had been becoming more common and more dangerous.
These are not the first killings connected to the Cushman Circle apartment complex. In June 2025, 12-year-old Ja-Nylen Greggs was killed after being caught in crossfire when gunfire erupted between two groups, according to FOX 5 Atlanta, which reported that the shooting occurred at the Cushman Circle apartment.
Atlanta police have since placed a mobile surveillance camera in the community to help deter crime, and investigators are asking anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 404-577-8477.
What These Shootings Mean for Negligent Security Claims
Georgia changed its negligent security law in 2025 through Senate Bill 68. The new law applies to negligent security claims arising on or after April 21, 2025 and sets out specific requirements for establishing liability.
Under O.C.G.A. § 51-3-51, prior substantially similar criminal activity can be relevant to whether later violence was foreseeable. Prior incidents at the same property, such as the June 2025 killing of 12-year-old Ja-Nylen Greggs, and may therefore be significant in evaluating a potential claim.
Residents have also told reporters that security concerns existed before the September shootings and that neighbors had previously complained about a lack of security. Those reports may be relevant to what management knew, although they do not by themselves establish negligence.
Georgia law also looks at whether a specific condition of the property contributed to the risk. Depending on the facts, that could include issues involving lighting, cameras, gates, locks, fencing, or other security measures. Records such as police reports, tenant complaints, maintenance records, security contracts, and camera records may help show what conditions existed and how management responded.
Multiple deadly shootings at the same complex, prior reported violence, and residents’ concerns about security raise important questions about what management knew and what precautions may or may not have been in place.
Were Your Loved Ones Killed In the Hidden Pines Apartment Shootings or a Similar Incident?
If your family member was killed in a shooting at the Hidden Pines Apartments, or in a violent incident at another apartment complex or residential property in Georgia, you may have legal options against the property owner or management company.
At Andreozzi + Foote, we represent victims of negligent security at apartment complexes, residential properties, and other locations, holding owners and managers accountable when inadequate lighting, access control, camera coverage, or security staffing contributes to a preventable injury or death. Our team can help you understand whether a property met its legal duty to protect you, and what compensation may be available for medical bills, funeral expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering.
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