As the calendar flips from May to June, City of Savannah Mayor Van Johnson is remaining vigilant in his public responses to incidents of gun violence across the city. On Tuesday, May 28, at his last weekly press briefing for the month, Johnson addressed a number of city issues before taking questions. Many of the questions asked of him were related to Savannah’s shooting incidents so far in 2024.

“We will keep Savannah safe,” Johnson said Tuesday at City Hall on Bay Street. “The City of Savannah, if we had a magic wand to wave to make (gun violence) go away, then we would. It’s not just us. It can’t just be us. I think it has to be in a place like Georgia that allows guns everywhere.”

As of May 29, there had been 13 homicides in 2024, according to weekly Savannah Police Department (SPD) crime data; 11 of those were committed with a gun and six happened between April 20 – May 26. There was one homicide recorded by SPD during the first five months of 2023.

June is National Gun Violence Awareness month.

The mayor was asked why he thought last weekend (May 24-26) was more mild, in terms of shooting crimes, than the chaotic weekend from before when an Ellis Square ‘mass shooting’ on May 18 capped a 48 hour (May 17-18) period which saw five shooting incidents take place within city limits.

“The favor of God, period. Thank God,” Johnson said. “It was absolutely unusual. It was an outlier for Savannah. There are some cities that have these very violent weekends, we’re not that. But I’m grateful, and hopefully, some of the other things we have in place are continuing to work.”

Following the arrest of William Anthony Mitchell (on May 21) for the 20-year-old’s alleged connections to the Ellis Square shooting, the circumstances surrounding the incident became even more complicated. Mitchell, as Connect Savannah previously reported, was in SPD custody for a different felony arrest (drugs w/intent to sell) until he was granted bond on April 1.

Mitchell’s bond for non-violent crimes was not unusual, but his being charged with eight felony counts for the Ellis Square shooting cast a light on the bond ever being granted, with some suggesting his release should have never happened. Mitchell’s conditions of bond, court documents showed, included being fitted for an ankle monitor to track his movements, along with a mandate to avoid being arrested (or charged) for any violations of the law. He was also told to avoid possessing, carrying or using a firearm.

Johnson acknowledged mixed feelings on the topic when asked about Mitchell.

“I was pissed,” the mayor said. “It was 50 days (between Mitchell’s bond order and the Ellis Square shooting). In a way, my mind tells me ‘well, it was nonviolent so the individual was released.’ But, on the other end of it, if he wasn’t released, he wouldn’t have been able to shoot anyone.”

“As I’ve said before, we are part of a much larger system. And so, as much as I understand the criminal justice system and understand why he would have been released, we look at the results of what he did do.”

According to SPD communications, the city’s most recent shooting homicide claimed the life of a 36-year-old female victim. It happened on May 26 at the intersection of Emerald and May Streets.

“We understand this was a mom, and that she may not have even been involved with the shooting before that. I’m encouraging people still, as we develop these leads, if you see something, say something,” Johnson said.

“We don’t take these incidents lightly, and every incident, for us, is a cause for concern. If you know something, then say something. Because these same folks are still out there shooting, and it could be you next time, or somebody you love.”

Crime data compiled by SPD in previous years suggest a predictable uptick in violent crimes could be approaching during the city’s warmest and next few months. View SPD’s crime report for week ending May 25 below.

MORE FROM THE MAYOR

• Johnson began his briefing by giving a nod to the recent Memorial Day holiday (May 27). He noted that last weekend he reached out to the family of Spc. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, a Savannah native who died in Jordan during drone strikes on Jan. 28. Moffett, 23, was a Windsor Forest High School graduate. The mayor reached Moffett’s mother by phone, he said. “I had the opportunity to reach out to Savannah’s most recent loss, to the mother of Sergeant Breonna Moffett,” Johnson said. “To let her know that the Savannah community is thinking about her during a most tragic time.”
• The mayor also said the city would be looking to take action – one way or another – on two issues of note at the next regular meeting of the Savannah City Council on June 27. They are: The future for Savannah’s Civic Center and a potential expansion of to-go cup zones beyond Savannah’s downtown district. Until time for voting, Johnson said the city would be seeking public input on both topics. “We’re not going to wait too late on these,” he said. “We’re going to make a decision and we want your input.”

Residents can visit the city’s website for more information on how to submit input on the projects, as well as to learn more about either.

This article appears in Connect Savannah I Best of Savannah.