Samuel W. Bryant IV was a 21-year-old Black man from Savannah, Georgia, just a few months shy of his 22nd birthday.
On the afternoon of July 1, 2022, his life was cut short by violence. Around 3:15 p.m., Savannah Police officers responded to a call about a shooting in the 4500 block of Meadows Avenue. There, they found Samuel suffering from gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital, but he died as a result of his injuries.
The investigation moved swiftly.
Detectives identified a suspect, and on July 2, the day after the shooting, they arrested 21-year-old Alex Eric Duncan. He was booked into the Chatham County jail and initially charged with one count of murder. On August 31, 2022, a Chatham County grand jury indicted Duncan on charges of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and three counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
Family and friends gathered to mourn Samuel at a funeral service on July 9, 2022, at the Temple of Glory Community Church, followed by his burial at Brown Memorial Cemetery.
In June 2023, Duncan’s defense attorney filed a motion seeking immunity from prosecution on the grounds of self-defense. According to the motion, Bryant came to Duncan’s home and attempted to force his way inside while attacking him, prompting Duncan to shoot. The motion claimed this was a reasonable act of self-defense. As of January 2024, court hearings regarding the motion were ongoing.
Police have asked anyone with information on the incident to contact the Violent Crimes Tip Line at (912) 525-3124 or CrimeStoppers at (912) 234-2020. A reward of up to $2,500 may be available for tips.
