By Phillip Lentsch–

Recent information from the New Albany Police Department states that a Cardinal Towne apartment was used as a gathering place for suspects that were plotting a robbery at a Waffle House in New Albany, Indiana. Concerns over how the suspects were able to repeatedly enter the apartment complex—despite not being residents of Cardinal Towne—have been raised.

“The security at Card Towne is definitely looser than it should be,” said Cameron Warren, a student resident there. “It’s as easy to walk in here as it would be to enter a Walmart.”

“In my opinion, there are way too many loopholes people can take to get inside. There’s even a basement door right by the elevator in the parking garage that has remained unlocked for quite some time. Anyone can just waltz right in,” said Josh Buttery, another Cardinal Towne resident.

On Dec. 22, that planned robbery turned into a fatal shooting in the New Albany Waffle House parking lot around 3 a.m. Police said the group intended to steal a large sum of cash from Charles Fischbach, but ultimately fatally shot him. Police took in five suspects that night, and two others later turned themselves in.

According to the NAPD, the group of suspects, including alleged shooter Keontez Malone, had frequented a vacant apartment in Cardinal Towne weeks in advance of the murder. It was there that police believed the crime was planned, although it was never intended to turn into a homicide.

“I am not aware that any four of these individuals are enrolled at the University of Louisville. I am not aware that any four of the people are authorized to be at that particular apartment,” said Floyd County Prosecutor Keith Henderson.

According to ULPD, Vanessa Mills and Shaleece Grace allowed Malone and the other suspect, Marcus Threatt, Jr., to stay at the apartment the night of the murder. ULPD reported that the apartment was empty, but they had a key.

Mills and Grace are not U of L students, nor are any of the current suspects. According to U of L Housing Director Julie Weber, U of L affiliated housing sites are not limited to only U of L students.

“While Card Towne does try to predominantly rent to U of L students, we realize that there are many non-students that would like to live there as well,” said Weber. “These residents go through the same exact screening that students go through to get a room, in order for us to make sure that we are getting a full profile of the people living there.”

Cardinal Towne, unlike other housing sites near U of L, is one of the few that isn’t gated off from public entry. At places like The Province or The Bellamy, residents and guests are required to enter in a specific gate code in order to gain access inside. Cardinal Towne, on the other hand, only has door restrictions to keep people out.

“I’ve never personally felt unsafe while living at Cardinal Towne, but it still is really easy for non-residents to get in. People prop open the front doors all the time and it renders the locking mechanism useless,” said another resident who asked remain anonymous for this story.

Cardinal Towne did not respond to repeated requests for comment.