PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) When a Black mother and daughter moved into their Gresham apartment in early June, they anticipated that their neighbors would offer a warm welcome.
But less than a month later, they began receiving death threats from a tenant in the building.
While living in the Landings at Morrison Apartments, Nubrittany Smith says she and her mom have received threats from 19-year-old Dominic Austin for months.
From pounding on the door to threatening with a knife, videos captured on Smith?s Ring Security Camera appear to show Austin's behavior escalating - including threats of rape and racist slurs.
"You have to make sure you look outside your peep-hole. You look at your Ring camera before you exit your home," Smith said. "Honestly, it's like you live inside of a jail or something."
One recording shows Austin say, "You're about to get murdered." Another tenant told KOIN 6 they've seen him with a knife in his hands.
Smith says she notified police and property management on June 30 - the day after the first incident - and continued to report the threats. However, for months, she said nothing was done to remove Austin from the complex.
"Part of the rental agreement says that if a tenant should threaten another tenant, the landlord can throw the offender out in 24 hours notice," Attorney Greg Kafoury said.
According to documents obtained by KOIN 6, Austin was only officially notified by the property on Sept. 8, and an eviction notice was only filed on Monday.