The fatal shooting of a 2-year-old girl in her family’s apartment Tuesday night along with other recent violence led Savannah’s new police chief on Wednesday to ask state and federal police for more help fighting crime.
The “tragic and horrific” slaying of Kiaja Smalls, said Savannah-Chatham Police Chief Joseph Lumpkin, “needs to become the catalyst to a change in attitude towards crime for much of our community.”
Smalls was shot about 11 p.m. Tuesday while asleep in a unit at Hampstead Oaks Apartments, Lumpkin said. The two bullets that struck her were fired from just outside, he said, adding that police had “no doubt” the specific apartment was targeted.
“I can think of no one more innocent than a 2-year-old girl peacefully sleeping in her family’s living room,” the police chief said, reading from a written statement.
“I have no doubt there are people in our neighborhoods that know who committed this heinous crime and why,” he said.
Lumpkin did not take any questions, citing a need to protect the active investigation into Smalls’ slaying.
The child’s death is the third homicide investigated by metro police since Saturday and came on the heels of a weekend in which the department responded to nine shootings.
The police chief called on members of the public who have information about the crimes to come forward. He said some people do not come forward with information because they are associated with criminals through family or other means or because they fear retribution.
“If you are not working with us to combat this criminal activity, you are enabling, empowering and even encouraging the criminals through your silence,” Lumpkin said. “Experience tells us that a very small segment of a community is committing these crimes. But that small element is holding the rest of us hostage. They cannot threaten all of us.”
In a statement sent while she was out of town Wednesday, Savannah Mayor Edna Jackson also asked members of the public to contact police with information about violent crimes.
“Starting now, we must begin changing the culture of violence that has cast a shadow over Savannah for too long,” Jackson said. “Starting now, we need our residents to step forward and work with police to solve these crimes.”
She called on parents to set the right examples for children and encouraged community involvement in activities such as neighborhood watches.
Lumpkin said he reached out to state and federal authorities on Wednesday to ask whether they can provide help.
Metro police spokesman Julian Miller said the chief requested assistance from the Georgia State Patrol and that the police department regularly works with the FBI and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
“This is not because our officers are not doing all they can or do not have the competence to police this community — it is simply a matter of numbers,” Lumpkin said. “Every police department needs more resources, and we all pay state and federal taxes.”
In addition to asking people to call police with information, Lumpkin noted that religious leaders have begun offering to relay information in confidence from residents to investigators.
Violent crime in recent months has sparked an outcry from members of Savannah’s clergy. Among them is the Rev. Thurmond N. Tillman, who has been involved in publicly calling for a cease fire to the shootings and a local implementation of Healing Communities of Georgia.
Tillman, pastor at First African Baptist Church downtown, said he’s received several calls in recent days from concerned members of the community who want to know what can be done in response to violence.
“It’s clear that there is a need in our community, and we have to respond to it,” Tillman said.
He said he wants to get members of the faith-based community to reach out to people in the area who need help.
“It is my experience that there is a sense of hopelessness among part of the population in Savannah,” Tillman said. “It seems as if no one cares, no one wants to help and it’s every man, woman and child for himself. I know that’s not the community we have.”
He said that issues need to be addressed, such as finding work for people who return to life after incarceration and making sure young people who witness violence have access to counseling.
“We all want it to stop,” Tillman said. “How do we reach people who are helpless and hopeless and who don’t regard human life at the level you ought to regard human life?”
The mayor, in her statement, said violence in the community is an issue that needs to be addressed by everyone.
“This is a problem that must be addressed in every home, every school, every church and around every dinner table in Savannah,” she said. “And parents, if you’re not having dinner with your children, it’s about time you did. Our young people aren’t gong to do the right thing without your guidance.”
The mayor said she supports Lumpkin’s decision to reach out to state and federal authorities. The police chief said he expects the agencies to respond positively.
He stressed that the public and police need to work together to maintain public safety.
“Remember, every child in our community should have the right to an environment absent illegal gun acts, gangs and drug violence,” he said.
MAKE THE CALL
Police ask anyone with information on the shooting cases to call CrimeStoppers at 912-234-2020 or text CRIMES (274637) using the keyword CSTOP2020. Tipsters remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.
Investigators can be reached confidentially at 912-525-3124.
Mayor Edna Jackson also encouraged tipsters to call her office at 912-651-6444.