In the summer of 2018, the life of 26-year-old Robert Lee, a Black male, was tragically cut short on the streets of Savannah, Georgia. On the evening of July 25th, at approximately 9:15 p.m., the sound of gunfire shattered the night near the intersection of East Bolton Street and Waters Avenue. When Savannah Police officers arrived at the scene, they discovered Lee deceased, having sustained fatal gunshot wounds.
The violence of that night was not limited to Lee's death. Two other men were also caught in the hail of bullets. Kavon Freeman, 25, was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Another man, 26-year-old Bernard Carter, was taken to the hospital by a private vehicle, also with non-life-threatening injuries. Investigators also identified a secondary crime scene at the intersection of East 38th and Layola streets, which they believed to be connected to the shooting on Bolton Street.
For months, the case remained under investigation, one of a string of violent incidents that had plagued the city. The break in the case came in March of 2019, as the result of a comprehensive investigation into a series of violent crimes. On March 14, 2019, the Savannah Police Department announced a significant 108-count indictment against seven individuals who were connected to at least five homicides, including Robert Lee's, as well as numerous other violent offenses such as armed robbery and aggravated assault.
The individuals indicted were identified as Osha Dunham, Nelaunte Grant, Cordell and Donnell Richardson, Malik McKenzie, and Jevon Williams. Another suspect, Jahonne Manigo, was also named in the indictment but remained at large. The charges against this group included murder, violations of the street gang and terrorism act, robbery, and aggravated assault. The indictment was hailed by the then-police chief as a significant step in combating gang, gun, and drug-related violence in the community, with a promise to relentlessly pursue those responsible for such crimes. The arrests and indictments were a culmination of law enforcement's efforts to dismantle a violent criminal enterprise and bring a measure of justice to the families of the victims, including the family of Robert Lee.
