The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is investigating the second officer-involved shooting by the Savannah Police Department in the past two weeks and the third in the past two months.
According to a press release issued by GBI, James Allen Miller, 31, was shot by Savannah police officers who responded to a 911 call at 7:27 p.m., April 2. A man with a knife reportedly was chasing people near Bordeaux Lane in the Colonial Oaks area on Savannah's south side. When officers arrived, Allen would not comply with verbal commands or attempts to speak. As Miller ran toward one of the officers, he was shot.
The GBI release states that the officers and emergency medical technicians on the scene administered first aid. Miller was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Credit: Georgia Bureau of Investigation
Credit: Georgia Bureau of Investigation
Per protocol with any officer-involved shooting, SPD called the GBI to conduct an independent investigation. Miller's body will be taken to the GBI Crime Lab for an autopsy. A GBI agent recovered a knife at the scene. Once complete, the case file will be forwarded to the Eastern Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review.
Miller's death is the third officer-involved shooting in Chatham County this year under investigation by the GBI.
On March 26, two off-duty SPD officers working security at Social Club on Congress Street shot a man after pulled a handgun and pointed it at the officers. He died three days later at a local Savannah hospital.
At approximately 5 a.m. on Feb. 19, SPD officers chased a man through an apartment complex and commercial business area, ending in the parking lot of Home Source Rentals at 9133 White Bluff Road. While running, the man, later identified as Zachary Smith, 24, from Ellabell, pointed his weapon at an officer. The officer fired, hitting Smith in the leg. Medical aid was rendered at the scene and Smith was taken to Memorial Health University Medical Center.
Drew Favakeh is the public safety and public health reporter for Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at AFavakeh@savannahnow.com.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: GBI investigates second Savannah police officer-involved shooting in past 2 weeks
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