In the late summer of 2015, the community of Savannah, Georgia, was shaken by the violent and untimely death of 23-year-old Lawrence Bryan IV. On the morning of August 7, 2015, Bryan was fatally shot in the 3600 block of Duane Court. A male, he was a beloved son, father, and friend, born and raised in Savannah where he had attended Notre Dame Academy and Johnson High School.
The investigation into Bryan's death was a lengthy one, stretching over a year and a half. Detectives with the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department worked closely with the Chatham County District Attorney's Office to piece together the events of that tragic day. Their efforts eventually led them to a primary suspect, Timone Maurice Hooper. In January 2017, at the age of 25, Hooper was served with a warrant for Bryan's murder while he was already incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institute in Jesup, Georgia, on other charges.
The case against Hooper was strengthened by the cooperation of his girlfriend, Tiffany Chism. In August 2018, on the third anniversary of Bryan's death, Chism pleaded guilty to her role in the crime. She admitted to hiding the murder weapon for Hooper and, as part of a plea deal to avoid jail time, agreed to testify against him. Chism was subsequently sentenced to four years of probation.
Ultimately, Timone Hooper was convicted by a jury for the murder of Lawrence Bryan IV. He was also found guilty of attempted armed robbery and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. Though an appeal was filed citing ineffective assistance of counsel and a violation of his right to a public trial, the Supreme Court of Georgia affirmed his convictions in March 2022, ensuring that the man responsible for the death of Lawrence Bryan IV would be held accountable for his actions.
