GBI: Bystander shot, killed during police shootout with suspect in Savannah

A shooting investigation in Savannah Friday night developed into a suspect trading gunfire with police, leaving the suspect injured and a bystander shot and killed, authorities said.

The GBI was called in by the Savannah Police Department to investigate the incident, the GBI said in a news release.

Police were investigating a shooting incident on New Castle Street when officers spotted a person on the 1600 block of Stratford Street that they believed was involved in the earlier shooting, the release said.

The suspect was identified as Chantz Cooper, 20, of Savannah, and during the encounter, officers and Cooper allegedly exchanged gunfire, the release said. It’s unknown how many officers were involved in this incident.

During the exchange, a female bystander inside a nearby home was struck and killed by gunfire, the release said.

The GBI will perform an autopsy, but it is unclear whether the woman was struck by shots fired by the officers or Cooper.

Cooper was also injured during the incident and was transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries, the release said. No officers were injured.