In the early evening of a Sunday in Savannah, Georgia, the life of 19-year-old Javonte Reed was tragically cut short. On December 11, 2016, what began as an altercation on the 1000 block of Carter Street escalated into fatal violence. Around 6:45 p.m., shots were fired, and Javonte Reed was struck by a bullet. Emergency services responded to the scene and transported him to Memorial University Medical Center, but his injuries proved to be fatal.
The Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police
Department's Violent Crimes investigators immediately began to piece together the events of that evening. They learned that Reed had been involved in a dispute with another male just before the shooting. The suspect, described as a Black male wearing a camouflage jacket, fled the scene in an unknown direction. Investigators stated that they did not believe the shooting was a random act.
In the days that followed, the investigation progressed, leading to a significant development. On Thursday, December 22, 2016, police arrested 17-year-old Craig Weston in connection with the death of Javonte Reed. Weston was subsequently charged with murder. The case, however, remained under active investigation as authorities continued to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident. An online memorial page for Javonte Reed indicates that a person received a minimum of 10 years in prison in connection to his death.
