Help Chris and Georgia Rebuild After Assault

On June 15th, 2024 at 12:13AM, myself, [Chris Bowles] and Georgia Bowles took our dogs out for a walk for the last outing of the night. As we came out the front door of our apartment building, we witnessed approximately twenty people having a party at our complex pool and blasting music from an apartment balcony. I approached the fence to ask the group to quiet down, because the pool closed at 9PM. One young man broke off from the group and approached to yell to me that they didn't need to leave, they could do what they want, and then began to assault me. I attempted to defend myself and a large group of the men jumped over the fence while others held me against the fence so that I could not defend myself. I fought my way to a squatting position, and they started stomping me. Georgia rushed in to try to pull the men away from me, and two of the men started assaulting her before some of the women from the group came over and joined in. We continued fighting to defend ourselves for several minutes until another resident came outside with a knife trying to help get people off of us. The police arrived several seconds later and people started to scatter. We were left to be questioned as if we were the aggressors.

Georgia suffered a laceration above her eye, requiring stitches and a cracked eye socket. Chris received the worst of the physical assault resulting in: a major contusion behind his left ear, causing a moderately-serious concussion, a cracked eye socket, minorly cracked left jaw, two cracked ribs and fist and shoe print bruising all over his entire torso including a major contusion over the kidney. I even had perfectly defined fingerprint bruising from being held against the fence. No arrests were made even though the police questioned some people leaving the scene.

The apartment office attempted to console us; by posting a security camera in the pool area only and minimizing pool hours, but we did not feel any more safe. The police couldn't really do anything, because the only person questioned at the scene, other than us, was underage, there was no camera coverage, and nobody in the complex felt safe enough to speak about it afterward, even though several came out to help or just watch.

Because of this assault happening less than 50 ft. from our home, in front of our dogs, my mother, and many neighbors, we could not use the pool at all. We couldn't take the dogs out for a walk, check the mail, or walk to the car without expecting danger at every corner. We all carried self-defense methods with us if we left the house for any reason. Every time we saw a strange person walking around the complex we were on edge. The police were called, by us or by neighbors 20+ times for repeated disturbances around our apartment building and the complex as a whole throughout the remainder of the summer. Our lease didn't expire until August 31st, and the apartment management office was disinclined to let us out of our lease early. We attempted to wait, for the police to do something, for the news to call us back, for the panic attacks to subside. The panic attacks, and nightmares, and unease didn't go away. It couldn't, we weren't safe and we knew it. These were the short term affects. The long term affects so far have been increased: anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia, nightmares, paranoia, stress seizures, audio hallucinations and memory loss.

We have waited, and attempted to heal, but nothing has worked. We have found a place to live, and feel safe, but it is expensive to move. It is painful to uproot your entire life. We also have outrageous medical bills as a result of this experience. We are seeking donations for paying off some medical bills, and getting situated in our new home. We will also be setting up some much needed safety features. We hate to be a burden, but anything you have to give would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much for "listening" to our story. If you are unable to donate, feel free to share this with those who you think it might resonate. Maybe you know someone who felt alone after an attack. No one deserves to feel unsafe in their own home. Thank you again.