
Detectives have made an arrest in one of three shootings last Tuesday night and continue to seek a suspect in a second that left two dead and one injured.
Metro officers took 19-year-old Daquan Demetrius Williams, of Rainbow Drive, into custody after Williams and another male were observed behind Pal’s Mini Mart on ACL Boulevard and Louis Mills Drive. He had been charged in the shooting of 25-year-old Javaris Smith near East Oglethorpe Avenue and Wilder Street last Tuesday. Smith sustained non-life threatening injuries.
Investigators continue to search for 21-year-old David Randy Daniels, Jr. charged with two counts of murder in the deaths of Dominique Bright, 18, and Syheem Spaulding, 15, and aggravated assault in the shooting of Sha’nai Harris, 15, at East 39th and Cedar streets about 20 minutes after the Oglethorpe shooting.
Daniels is described as a black male, 5-foot-10 and weighing about 220 pounds. He is known to frequent areas throughout East Savannah and is considered armed and dangerous.
SCMPD Violent Crimes detectives ask that anyone with information on Daniels’ location not approach him, but call Emergency 911 immediately. Anyone with information on these cases is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (912) 234-2020 or text CRIMES (274637). Tipsters remain anonymous. A confidential Tip Line also is open directly to investigators at (912) 525-3124.
Chatham County District Attorney Meg Heap has been appointed to serve on the Georgia ‘House Bill 1’ Working Group by Georgia Speaker of the House David Ralston. Heap will serve alongside representatives from the
Georgia judicial and law enforcement community, as well as members of the Georgia House of Representatives, in reviewing a bill that would reform asset forfeiture law in Georgia. The group will make their recommendations the House Judiciary Committee by January 13, 2014.
In Georgia, "the greater number of asset forfeitures are the result of law enforcement confiscations from drug-related activities. However, there can be confiscations from the proceeds of any illegal activity or crime," says a spokesman.
Civil asset forfeiture has become an important tool in funding law enforcement agencies, as well as special programs that are aimed at increasing crime fighting ability and effectiveness. "Although there are definitive and measurable positive reasons championing asset forfeiture, it must be made legally certain that any confiscating of assets is not in violation of the civil rights of the citizens of Georgia," says the spokesman.
Legendary composer, arranger and musician Tom Scott, whose saxophone sound was a hallmark of many classic 1970s and ‘80s jazz and rock recordings, will headline the 2013 Savannah Jazz Festival Sept. 28 in Forsyth Park.
The 32nd annual festival is scheduled for Sept. 22-28 at various local venues; all events are free.
Scott and his pioneering fusion band, the L.A. Express, backed Joni Mitchell during her jazz-influenced commercial heyday (Court and Spark, Miles of Aisles); Scott made significant contributions to records by Carole King (“Jazzman”), George Harrison (“Dark Horse”), Steely Dan (Aja), Paul McCartney (“Listen to What the Man Said”) and Whitney Houston (“Saving All My Love For You”).
His other A-list session work includes Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, Rod Stewart, Blondie and the Blues Brothers. Scott will direct and solo on a Big Band set with the Savannah Jazz Orchestra.
For the complete schedule, see www.savannahjazzfestival.org.
Detectives and patrol officers made an arrest in connection to an armed robbery at an east Savannah store last month.
This past Thursday, Steven R. Carter, 48, was taken into custody at a residence on the 1000 block of East 38th Street. Investigators believe Carter is the gunman who on the evening of July 23 entered the Family Dollar on the 1900 block of East Gwinnett Street and robbed the store clerk. Carter is charged with armed robbery. Additional charges are pending.
Police are asking the public’s help in locating a 21-year-old man they have charged with murder and aggravated assault in the shootings of three teenagers this past Tuesday night.
David Randy Daniels Jr. is a black male, 5-foot-10 and weighing about 220 pounds. He is known to frequent the East Savannah areas and is considered armed and dangerous. He has been charged with two counts of murder in the deaths of Dominique Bright, 18, and Syheem Spaulding, 15, and aggravated assault in the shooting of Sha’nai Harris, 15, at East 39th and Cedar streets about 9:45 p.m. Tuesday.
SCMPD Violent Crimes detectives ask that anyone with information on Daniels’ location not approach him, but call Emergency 911 immediately.