The family of a 12-year-old who was shot and killed outside a party in Savannah late last year is asking anyone who witnessed the crime to come forward and help police.
Keith Passmore was shot to death while sitting with a 20-year-old man in a truck on Vicksburg Drive on Savannah’s eastside about 10 p.m. Nov. 22.
“We are pleading with the people who were at the party that might have information that would lead investigators to the person who is responsible for taking the life of a child,” said Krista Stone Carter, Keith Passmore’s first cousin, Wednesday at Savannah-Chatham police headquarters. “Many of you who were in attendance at that party get to go on with your lives. You’ll graduate from high school. You’ll go to college. You’ll be a productive citizen. Keith’s life, along with all of his hopes and dreams, were taken in just a few short minutes in November.”
A metro police officer’s preliminary report states a male walked up to the parked truck, told the occupants to open up, and fired multiple shots when they didn’t. The man in the driver’s seat, who took Keith to the gathering, sped away and drove to Memorial University Medical Center when he saw the child slumped over in the passenger seat.
Police say they have no new leads.
“It’s virtually impossible for no one to have seen what happened,” said Detective Jonathan Puhala, the main investigator on the case.
Keith was shot to death less than a week after 2-year-old Kiaja Smalls was killed while sleeping when someone opened fire on the Hampstead Oaks apartment where she lived. Police say the apartment was targeted. On Wednesday, the department released no new information on that case, in which no arrests have been made.
In all, seven juveniles died from gunfire in Savannah last year.
Keith’s family said it’s been rough going through the holiday season without him, and that they spent what would have been his 13th birthday at his grave.
Keith’s mother, Tammy Carter, called him a “social butterfly” with lots of friends.
“He wanted to work. He wanted to go to school,” she said. “He was your typical teenager — thought he was going to grow up to be rich and famous.”
The last thing Keith told his mom was not to worry.
“The last words he said to me when I agreed for him to go to that party were, ‘Mom, don’t worry. I’m going to be in the neighborhood,’” Carter said, trying to hold herself together. “And he was just three streets away when he was killed.”
MAKE THE CALL
Police ask anyone with information that can help detectives solve the slaying of Keith Passmore, Kiaja Smalls or any other local homicide to call the anonymous CrimeStoppers service at 912-234-2020. Tipsters’ identities stay secret even to those taking the call, and they may qualify for a cash reward.
Texts can also be sent to CRIMES (274637) using the keyword CSTOP2020.
Investigators can be reached directly and in confidence by calling 912-525-3124.