In the late hours of a Thursday evening in Savannah, Georgia, the life of 26-year-old Gary J. Pitts was tragically cut short. On July 7, 2022, the sound of gunfire pierced the night air, prompting a ShotSpotter alert that drew Savannah Police officers to the area of W. Park Avenue and Montgomery Street at approximately 11:40 p.m.. Upon their arrival, they discovered Pitts suffering from gunshot wounds. Despite the immediate response, he succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation into the shooting was swift, leading to the identification and apprehension of multiple suspects. Within a week of the incident, the Savannah Police Department announced the first arrests in the case. On July 13, 19-year-old Hershel Orr and 17-year-old Vincent Truesdale were taken into custody and booked into the Chatham County jail. They faced serious charges, including murder, armed robbery, and aggravated assault. A third suspect, a 16-year-old male, was also arrested and booked into the Regional Youth Detention Center on charges of murder and armed robbery.
The pursuit of justice did not end there. As the investigation continued, a fourth individual was implicated in the fatal shooting. On July 24, detectives arrested 19-year-old Lamartrus Exley, who was also charged with murder and armed robbery and subsequently booked into the Chatham County jail. The collaborative efforts of law enforcement brought four suspects before the courts to answer for the death of Gary Pitts.
