Intruder shoots, kills man in east Atlanta apartment

ATLANTA - An intruder broke into a southeast Atlanta apartment and shot and killed a resident who walked inside the unit during a burglary Monday, according to Atlanta Police.

The homicide happened around 1 p.m. at the Alexan EAV on Metropolitan Avenue.

Lt. Charles Hampton said the victim was a man in his twenties. Hampton told FOX 5 the man walked inside his apartment with a friend when he got into a physical altercation with the burglar. The burglar then shot the man several times before leaving the scene.

Detectives are looking for a person of interest seen on surveillance footage before the homicide. Investigators don't know if the individual was involved in the crime but believe he can offer information, according to Hampton.

Residents at Alexan EAV said they are afraid after Monday's incident and other burglaries inside the gated community. Atlanta Police report a total of six burglaries occurred at the complex since August. Three of those burglaries happened on October 25, according to a report obtained by FOX 5.

Amy Hartman spoke with FOX 5's Marissa Mitchell hours after the deadly shooting. She said someone broke into her apartment last week.

"There's a great chance that could've happened to me..." Hartman said. "I think I might move because something that's really important to me is that I feel safe where I live."

Hartman said she wants off-duty officers at the complex instead of courtesy officers, which, she says, the Alexan EAV provides.

FOX 5 reached out to BH Management Services, the company that manages the community, about the burglaries.  A spokesperson sent the following statement:

"At this time, our primary focus is on providing support to the family, friends and neighbors affected by this incident, and providing any possible assistance to the police during their ongoing investigation. We have distributed notification to all residents informing them of the incident, providing them a description of the suspect, and directing them to contact local authorities with any additional information. The property’s operational leadership team, along with representatives of the property’s ownership group and local police, are meeting with to discuss additional protocols at the property."