Apartment Owner Steps In to Make Tenants Safer

EAST COLUMBUS, Ohio -- With help from the NAACP, the owner of an apartment complex on Rhoads Avenue says he stepping up to help take back his streets.

Steve Peterson, who owns the Rhoads Commons Apartments in the 800 block of Rhoads Avenue, flew to from California to Columbus Thursday to start making needful changes to insure his tenants’ safety.

This comes after 19-year-old Austin Parks died from being shot at one of the apartment units last week. A bullet tore through a window and struck him.

Columbus police reported finding his body on the sidewalk, just outside of the apartment complex.

On Thursday, melted candle remains marked the spot where concerned loved ones and residents held a vigil to honor his passing and to stand tall against more crim.

Detectives say they are still searching for his killer. People living in the complex told Peterson that they’ve been even more scared than usual about their own safety since the deadly shooting.

“If they can take one thing from this, it's that we care,” he said. “We're going to do what it takes to make this community safer -- period.”

Peterson told ABC6/Fox28 News’ Adam Slinger that he plans to do a walk-through of every apartment at the Rhoads complex this weekend to check conditions.

He affirmed his working with members of the NAACP, as well.Apartment Owner Steps In to Make Tenants Safer