Lawsuit alleges Louisville property management company didn't warn residents after woman assaulted

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Six women were attacked in the same area of southwest Louisville. Almost a year later, the suspect still hasn't been caught.

Now one of those victims, a 19-year-old, is suing her apartment complex.

The lawsuit was filed on June 20th. It states Hannah Harshfield was assaulted at the River Breeze Apartments and was severely hurt after being beat in the face with a gun.

Harshfield's attorneys said her attacker fit the description of a suspect who allegedly assaulted multiple women on the property — wearing a black face mask and carrying a gun.

"It's just tragic," Attorney David Barber, who's representing Harshfield, said.

On August 24th of last year, LMPD notified the public about six assaults.

Three times at the River Breeze Apartments, twice at Moss Creek Apartments, and once at the Finish Line Apartments.

All of the victims were robbed and one was sexually assaulted.

Hannah Harshfield was one of the victims living at River Breeze. There were at least five attacks before hers.

According to LMPD, the first assault took place in June.

"The decent thing to do would have been to let people know there's this danger," Barber said.

Attorney David Barber, who is representing Harshfield, said the apartment's notice came too late.

It wasn’t until after LMPD notified the public, Richardson Properties Inc, which owns River Breeze Apartments, told its' tenants about the attacks.

The lawsuit claims Richardson Properties showed a "disregard for tenant safety" when it didn't warn residents about the ongoing assaults, and didn't implement additional security measures, such as installing security cameras, improving lighting or providing safety personnel.

River Breeze Apartments.jpg — Outside of River Breeze Apartments on June 27, 2024. (WDRB photo)

"What we're seeing is if they're telling people to keep it quiet, it looks like they're putting money over safety," Barber said.

According to the lawsuit, the victim got away, but only after the suspect used his fists and a gun to beat her break her teeth and cause a brain injury.

The Louisville native believes her apartment complex should have warned her of the known risks and the characteristics of the suspect after the first attack on their property.

"What we're seeing is if they're telling people to keep it quiet, it looks like they're putting money over safety," Barber said.

The then, freshman in college, expects to have ongoing medical and dental surgeries in the nearby future.

Richardson Properties has not yet responded to a request for comment. The suit seeks compensation for physical injuries, emotional trauma, medical expenses and lost wages.

LMPD said the description of the suspect and use of a handgun in each case is similar, and that assaults were reported as far back as June 2023.

Christopher Thompson, 22, was arrested in January and charged with robbing and sexually assaulting a woman on Yazoo Street, near Valley Station and the Pleasure Ridge Park neighborhood, last July. Police have not connected him with the other assaults in the area.

Anyone with information in any case is asked to call LMPD's anonymous Crime Tip Line at (502) 574-LMPD (5673). Tips can also be submitted anonymously online through the Crime Tip Portal by clicking here.

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