Atlanta police say a southwest Atlanta man died from injuries he suffered after he jumped from a 3rd story balcony to escape home invaders.
Jose Greer, 51, went out on the balcony and called 911 as the men were kicking in the door to his condo. When the home invaders gained entry, he jumped from his 3rd floor balcony.
Greer was still conscious and able to communicate with police and paramedics when they arrived at the scene, according to Fox 5 News.
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“He actually was conscious enough to tell the responding officer that he jumped in fair of his safety,” said Atlanta Police Major Adam Lee.
Greer later died six hours later during surgery at Grady Memorial Hospital. He suffered a fractured pelvis, broken arms, broken legs and other internal injuries.
Surveillance video shows one of the home invaders letting the other 2 men into the Sky-Lofts Condos in southwest Atlanta earlier this week. The 1st man gained access after someone left the building’s gated door open.
The 3 men went directly to Greer’s 3rd floor condo and kicked the door in.
After the burglary, the 3 men are seen on surveillance footage calmly exiting the building and pausing over the victim’s broken body as he lay fatally wounded on the ground.
“We believe they would have had to walk right past Mr. Grier,” said Major Lee during a press conference.
The home invaders ransacked Greer’s unit, leading police to believe they were looking for something in particular. They left with a container of coins and some business cards, leaving televisions and an iPad behind.
The container of coins was found near a fence the 3 men jumped over. Police say the home invaders dropped other personal items belonging to Greer.
A neighbor said she never saw anyone going into Greer’s unit. Police are investigating the possibility that the thieves targeted Greer’s unit by mistake.
“There is no indication that Mr. Greer was doing anything other than minding his own business,” Lee said.
Neighbors said “suspicious people’ had been seen coming and going from another condo unit on another floor.
“I can’t think of anything that would have made him a target there,” condo President Maurice Gunter told 11 Alive News.
An anonymous donor helped bring the total reward money in the case to $25,000.
The public is asked to call Atlanta Police or Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS with any information on the suspects. Callers can remain anonymous.
This post was updated.
