It has been one week since gunshots erupted outside University Heights apartments.
Three people died and a suspect was taken into custody. Now there are new concerns about safety among some students at Auburn University.
Some had plans to live at University Heights and are now having second thoughts--trying to get out of leases they signed for the upcoming school year.
But it could come with a price.
"She's really terrified of living there now," says mother Crystal Cramer about her 18-year old daughter slated to move into University Heights this fall.
Saturday's mass shooting has Cramer and her daughter wanting out of a contract they already signed.
Cramer says the apartment complex "would not let us out of the lease or let us transfer."
They're not the only ones interested in leaving. Cramer says other parents have told her they're trying to get out of leases there, too.
In fact, Auburn housing authorities say parents have called asking about dorm availability.
"They do have my daughter and my daughter's friend that's coming down with her a place to stay here in the dorm if we can get out of our lease."
Getting out of the lease could be difficult.
"Legally, I don't think they would win in court should the landlord pursue damages for them leaving early," says Collections Attorney Michael Godwin.
Godwin is familiar with the rights of renters and landlords. He says the University Heights apartment complex isn't required to let anyone out of a lease just because that person feels unsafe.
"Generally under Alabama landlord tenant law, the tenant wouldn't have a right to leave because of an uneasy feeling based on the criminal activity."
Cramer voiced her concerns with University Heights management.
They responded sharing what they've done to increase safety like:
--Hiring a 24-hour courtesy patrol company
--Changing gate codes for the entrance and pool area
--Housing a Lee county Sheriff's deputy who lives on site and does routine checks.
--Screening each potential resident before approving their application
Godwin says if Cramer breaks the lease, she might still have to pay a couple months' rent.
"It would be a struggle. There would be no way I could do that," she says.
Cramer says she understands the shooting was most likely a one-time occurrence.
She just hopes the complex will "have a heart" as she puts it--even though they're not required to let her out of the lease.
University housing officials say many parents' minds are more at ease after speaking with Auburn police officers about the incident there.
Attorneys say a tenant may have the right to break a lease if the apartment complex promises certain security measures and does not provide them.
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