In the early hours of a Monday morning in Savannah, Georgia, the life of 18-year-old Shayla Curtis was tragically cut short. On April 24, 2017, police responded to a call of a shooting in the 1100 block of East 31st Street. Upon their arrival, at approximately 1:15 a.m., they discovered a grim scene. Shayla, along with two men, William Mullins, 24, and Courtney German, 31, had all succumbed to fatal gunshot wounds. The incident was investigated as a triple homicide.
Investigators quickly determined that the shooting was not a random act of violence. Their attention soon focused on a person of interest who was located and arrested in Jasper County, South Carolina, on unrelated charges. This individual was later identified as Keith Lamont Maro. Evidence, including shell casings and fingerprints, linked Maro to the scene of the crime.
Following his arrest, Maro admitted to the shootings. He claimed that he acted out of self-defense, stating that paranoia and fear from drug use led to his actions. However, his claims were rejected by the legal system. Maro was convicted for the murders of Shayla Curtis, William Mullins, and Courtney German and was serving multiple life sentences. The Georgia Supreme Court later upheld his convictions. Funeral services for Shayla were held on Thursday, May 4, 2017, at the Second Arnold Baptist Church.
