In the early morning hours of October 18, 2015, a fatal shooting in Savannah, Georgia, claimed the life of Frank William Wilson, a 24-year-old African American male. The incident, which unfolded at the city's popular City Market, was not a random act of violence but rather a calculated act of revenge. Wilson was shot eight times, with the majority of the bullets entering from behind.
The man responsible for Wilson's death was Joseph Heyward. His motive stemmed from a previous incident on December 26, 2013, in which Wilson had killed Heyward's brother, Antonio Terrell Heyward. Law enforcement had ruled that earlier killing as an act of self-defense, and Wilson was never charged. Consumed by a desire for vengeance, Joseph Heyward planned his retribution against Wilson.
Following the shooting at City Market, Savannah-Chatham police engaged in a foot chase with Heyward and quickly apprehended him. He faced a litany of charges, including malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. During the trial, evidence of Heyward's premeditation was presented, including a jailhouse phone call in which he expressed satisfaction with his actions.
The court proceedings brought to light the deep-seated animosity Heyward held for Wilson. On October 5, 2017, Joseph Heyward was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, with an additional five years for the firearm charge. The judge, in delivering the sentence, noted the deliberate and malicious nature of the crime, concluding that no other sentence would be just.
