Neighbors react to Kennesaw Ridge Road shooting

Police are looking for multiple suspects after a shooting on the 1100 block of Kennesaw Ridge Road just before 4 a.m.

A man is recovering with non-life threatening injuries. Officers said he heard his car alarm go off and was shot near his car when he went outside.

Multiple cars were broken into. Some neighbors said they are surprised by the car break-ins and shooting while others are not.

In the past year, the Columbia Police Department has been sent 129 times to Kennesaw Ridge Road. Two of the calls were related to auto theft, 22 were listed as disturbances and five were for larceny, according to dispatch records.

Steph Raubea said she’s seen people standing outside of her condo near the park between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. recently and they do not live in the neighborhood.

“There’s always people who do not seem to belong there,” she said.

A few months ago, Raubea’s friend’s car was stolen from the parking lot.

Raubea said she sees people going up to the cars and trying to get inside them.

“They will try all the handles of the cars,” she said. “We talked to our neighbor, and she says that has been going on for years now.”

She said she hopes to see a neighborhood watch group formed.

“This is getting ridiculous, it’s supposed to be a safe place,” she said.

Other residents are shocked. One man said many senior citizens and college students live in the neighborhood.

“I’m at a loss for words,” Lee said. “I never would have dreamed anything like that would really happen.”

He said he’s lived in the neighborhood for many years and it’s a quiet place.