New London — The city and the New London Housing Authority are facing the possibility of a lawsuit related to a shooting last month at a high rise apartment complex off Crystal Avenue.

New London Attorney Robert Reardon on Thursday filed a notice of intent to sue, claiming security and overall maintenance at the Thames River Apartments were neglected for years leading to dangerous conditions for residents.

Police said a 17-year-old was shot in the arm and a 4-year-old sustained a minor graze wound to her leg on May 25 when two men fired multiple shots in a courtyard area of the apartment complex.

No arrests have been made in the case, which remains under investigation.

Reardon's notice of intent to sue, filed with the City Clerk's office, identifies the victims in the shooting as Tiyana Boyd and Serenity Reels.

He claims Boyd suffered permanent injury to her arm and her mother, Kalilah Hightower, suffered severe emotional distress, he said. Reels suffered a leg injury and her mother, Sharandra Rickae, and sister, Skye Reels, both suffered emotional distress, Reardon claims.

“They were just out there having a good time,” Reardon said Thursday. “It appears, from what we’ve been told by witnesses, there were multiple shots being fired back and forth. Two men were shooting at each other.”

Reardon secured a judgment last year in a class action lawsuit against the housing authority on behalf of more than 300 tenants of the apartment complex.

A judge has ordered the New London Housing Authority to follow a three-year schedule of rehabilitation of the 124-unit low income housing complex.

“The New London Housing Authority and the City of New London have neglected to maintain this apartment complex for many years allowing it to be a known area for criminal activity, gang members, drug dealers and others intent on committing violent criminal activity exposing the tenants to risk of injury or death,” Reardon wrote in his notice to the city.

Among others security lapses Reardon cites in his notice are broken gate locks, a lack of security guards, inadequate lighting and slow responses to 911 calls.

Criminals and trespassers are regularly allowed to loiter in the playground and plaza area, "providing them with an open invitation to use it as a base for criminal activities," Reardon wrote.

“The Housing Authority aggressively defended a class action lawsuit brought by the tenants seeking safe, habitable housing ... for over a decade,” Reardon wrote.

Reached by email, New London Mayor Daryl Justin Finizio said it is the policy of the city not to comment on pending litigation.

g.smith@theday.com

Twitter: @SmittyDay