Suspect Arrested in Connection with Savannah Shooting that Left 11 Injured

On Wednesday, May 22, the police in Savannah, Georgia, announced the arrest of a suspect involved in the outbreak of gunfire that left 11 people injured last weekend at a public square in the downtown historic district.

The suspect, identified as William Anthony Mitchell, aged 20, has been charged with four counts of aggravated assault and possessing a firearm while committing a crime, according to a statement released by the Savannah police.

Details of the Incident

The shootings occurred late on a Saturday, resulting in 10 people being struck by gunfire and another getting injured by glass from a shattered car window. The altercation that sparked the gunfire was reportedly initiated by a dispute between two women in Ellis Square, a popular spot in the nightlife district of Savannah.

Arrest and Prior Charges

William Anthony Mitchell was already facing felony charges of possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute in an unrelated case. Records from the Chatham County State Court show that he had been released from jail after being granted bond on April 18.

Response and Statements

Mitchell's attorney, Greg Crawford, refrained from commenting on the case when contacted on Wednesday, stating, "I don't know a whole lot about the facts yet." Mayor Van Johnson attributed the rise in such incidents to the proliferation of guns and permissive Georgia laws that allow people to carry firearms without permits.

"Only in America, and certainly only in Georgia, do we insist that guns have nothing to do with gun violence,"

Mayor Johnson expressed his support for city ordinances that encourage responsible gun ownership without infringing on Second Amendment rights. In April, Savannah's City Council passed a measure making it illegal to leave guns in unlocked cars.

However, Georgia's Attorney General, Chris Carr, a Republican, has contested the ordinance, claiming that it violates a state law prohibiting local governments from regulating gun ownership or how firearms are carried. A lawsuit challenging the local gun law is currently pending in Chatham County Superior Court.

Previous Incidents

It was revealed that the incident in Ellis Square was one of five shootings in Savannah that weekend, resulting in two deaths and a total of 14 injuries. Additionally, it was the worst mass shooting in Georgia's oldest city since June 2021 when a person fired into a crowd outside a Savannah apartment complex, leaving one dead and seven wounded.

All 11 victims of the Ellis Square shootings were treated at a local hospital and then released, the police confirmed. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities still seeking multiple persons of interest related to the case.