ATLANTA – Police said a man who was trying to escape three home invaders died after jumping more than three floors from his condo.
Atlanta police said 51-year-old Jose Greer lived on the third-floor of an condominium complex in southwest Atlanta.
According to the condominium board President surveillance video shows an unsuspecting resident allowing one of the suspects in through a back door to the building. Moments later, a video released by police shows the suspect opening the door and allowing two more suspects to enter the building.
Police said the suspects went up to the third floor and started kicking in the door to Greer's condo. Greer was so frightened he went out onto the balcony, according to police. "I guess at some point they did make entry and he subsequently jumped over the balcony," said Maj. Adam Lee III.
Greer fell more than three stories to a concrete sidewalk suffering a broken pelvis, broken arms and several other fractures. He died six hours later at Grady Memorial Hospital.
Residents of the condominium complex on Oak Street were stunned by what happened. "That's one heck of a fall, one heck of a jump," said Jahmal Lockman. "There had to be something really going on in there."
The surveillance video shows the three suspects leaving the building and police believe they walked right by Greer, who was lying on the ground unable to move his limbs. "That makes it worse to us because they didn't render him any aid whatsoever," Maj. Lee said.
"I can't think of anything that would have made him a target there," said condo President Maurice Gunter, who knew Greer. He said Greer was very active with the condo's Toys for Tots program and gave out candy to neighborhood children for Halloween. "He was a very friendly gentleman, very proactive in the community, a very positive person in the community."
Police said the suspect's only stole some change and some business cards of Greer's, leaving several television sets and an iPad behind. According to an incident report, one neighbor told police she never saw anyone suspicious go into Greer's condo and thought the home invasion suspects may have targeted the wrong condo.
Atlanta Crime Stoppers is offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspects. Anyone with information is asked to call 404-577-TIPS(8477).
