A group of Savannah’s clergy members gathered on the city’s eastside Friday afternoon to call for a cease-fire to gun violence.
“We’re concerned, and we’re asking for the community to help us in simply saying enough is enough,” said the Rev. C. MeGill Brown. “We’re calling for a cease-fire for at least the next 48 hours. Let’s get through this weekend and not have any more shootings.”
Brown said the string of shooting incidents in recent days endangers the community as a whole rather than just those engaging in the violence.
Interim Savannah-Chatham Police Chief Julie Tolbert on Friday asked for public help quelling violent activity in a news release announcing a series of incidents in which shots were apparently fired in retaliation to other incidents.
“It appears that some people are taking the law into their own hands and innocent people could be caught in the process,” Tolbert said in a statement. “We are calling on the public, and religious organizations to help us stop this before that happens.”
Police said 29-year-old Marion D. McClendon of Savannah died Thursday after being shot at Utah Street and Pennsylvania Avenue the night before.
Additionally, three incidents were reported Thursday night in which shots were fired and at least two males received gunshot wounds, said metro police spokesman Julian Miller. One person has been taken into custody. Several people in at least one house received superficial injuries from debris from the impact of the bullets, Miller said.
Police have identified some subjects who seem to be targets of the violence and are trying to find them to get them off the streets, Miller said.
The Rev. Thurmond N. Tillman urged people with knowledge of violent crimes to share that information with authorities.
“If you don’t feel comfortable talking to the police, talk to somebody,” Tillman said. “Get the information out because we really do want to have a safe community. We’re asking everybody to please, please let us work together and live together. We’re asking for the shooting to come to an end. Stop the violence.”
He said 48 hours is just the beginning.
“Look at what has happened in the past 48 hours,” Brown said. “If we can just take enough time just to reverse what has taken place in the last two days and let cooler heads prevail, then hopefully that will be, as Pastor Tillman said, a beginning. Then we’ll come back Monday and we’ll reassess everything and look and continue to work with our police department to ensure the safety of our community as a whole.”
Ministers said those who are uncomfortable talking with police can call 912-220-7553 with information.
People with information can also call CrimeStoppers anonymously. Tipsters are not identified and may qualify for a cash reward. CrimeStoppers can be reached at 912-234-2020 or by texting CRIMES (274637) using the keyword CSTOP2020 before the tip.
Investigators can also be reached confidentially at 912-525-3124.