In the warm evening of May 11, 2019, a tragedy unfolded in Savannah, Georgia, that would cut short the life of a dedicated public servant. Savannah Police Sergeant Kelvin Ansari, a 50-year-old male, was shot and killed while investigating a robbery. A veteran of both the U.S. Army, from which he had retired after 21 years of service, and the Savannah Police Department, which he had served for 10 years, Ansari was a respected figure known for his commitment to protecting his community.
He is survived by his wife and four children.
The evening took a fatal turn when Sergeant Ansari and other officers responded to a robbery that had just occurred at a barbershop on Bull Street. The suspect, later identified as 49-year-old Edward Fuller III, had reportedly pistol-whipped and robbed a person leaving the establishment. While the initial belief was that Fuller had fled the scene, he was, in fact, concealed in a nearby vehicle. As Sergeant Ansari was securing the area, Fuller emerged from the car and opened fire, striking both Ansari and another officer, Douglas Thomas.
Following the ambush, Fuller fled on foot into a residential neighborhood. A manhunt quickly ensued, leading officers to a nearby home where Fuller was discovered hiding in a shed in the backyard. As law enforcement officers surrounded the shed and ordered him to surrender, Fuller emerged with a handgun and once again opened fire. Officers returned fire, fatally wounding him. The handgun Fuller used was later determined to have been stolen.
Both Sergeant Ansari and Officer Thomas were rushed to a local hospital for treatment. Tragically, Sergeant Ansari succumbed to his injuries. Officer Thomas was treated for a gunshot wound to the leg and was later released. The investigation into the shooting was handed over to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Court records revealed that Edward Fuller III had a criminal history with at least three prior felony convictions. The incident left the Savannah Police Department and the wider community in mourning for the loss of a man who had dedicated a significant portion of his life to the service and protection of others.
