ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — An Orange County man who’s been arrested 20 times and was accused in multiple gun crimes is suing the Orlando Housing Authority for not protecting him.
He claims it’s the OHA’s fault he got shot in the middle of the night at a low-income housing development.
Channel 9’s Field Sutton found out tax dollars will pay for the fight.
Derrick Gilmore, 29, and two others went to the hospital the night of the shooting at The Landings at Carver Park apartments.
But Gilmore’s attorney said the lawsuit he filed is about more than that night; he said it’s about the 27,000 calls to police in the immediate area within the last five years involving child abuse, rape and shootings.
“I feel safe. Yes. The minute that I don’t feel safe here I will move,” said a resident, who did not want to be identified. “How dare (he) sue the Housing Authority when the Housing Authority (doesn’t) have anything to do with this.”
People who live in the apartments said the numbers make the neighborhood sound worse than it is.
Channel 9 learned Gilmore’s been arrested 20 times in Orange County, with convictions on charges of drugs possession, burglary, resisting arrest and being a convicted felon with a gun.
“I don’t feel like it’s the Housing Authority’s fault because the Housing Authority doesn’t know who is going to get shot in the area,” said resident Tamyra Miller.
Gilmore’s attorney said a criminal past doesn’t rob anyone of the right to feel safe, or the right to hold someone responsible for harm.
The OHA wouldn’t comment on the pending litigation.
WFTV
