Savannah-Chatham police are investigating the events leading up to the shooting of a 23-year-old man by a Metro police officer this morning.
A statement from the police department said Timothy Maurice Williams has been hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries after the 3 a.m. shooting at West 44th and Barnard streets.
Central Precinct Patrol Officers were saturating the area in response to a report of multiple gunshots when three males were seen running on West 44th Street and climbing a fence into a yard of a house, the statement said. At the same time the resident of the house was calling Emergency 911 and flagging down a responding officer to report someone was breaking into her house.
The officer found the men in the yard and ordered them to stop, according to the statement. While two of the men climbed over a fence in an attempt to escape, the third, Williams, began charging at the officer, prompting him to fire.
Williams was transported to Memorial University Medical Center and has been admitted, according to police.
The two other men were questioned.
Police continue to investigate the original gunshots, the pursuit through the fenced yard and the shooting.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crimestoppers at (912) 234-2020 or text CRIMES (274637). Tipsters remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.
A confidential Tip Line also is open directly to investigators at (912) 525-3124.