In the spring of 2014, the life of a young Savannah male, Quahfee Murphy, was tragically cut short at the age of 16. On the evening of Saturday, April 26th, a violent encounter unfolded on the 3800 block of Bull Street, resulting in a double shooting that claimed Murphy's life and left another man hospitalized. The incident, which occurred around 9 p.m., sent shockwaves through the community and launched a homicide investigation by the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police.
The initial investigation revealed that Murphy and 23-year-old Allen Moore were both victims of the shooting. While Moore, who resided at the house where the shooting took place, was transported to Memorial University Medical Center for treatment of his injuries, Murphy unfortunately succumbed to his wounds. The police immediately began their search for answers, appealing to the public for any information that could lead to the apprehension of the person or persons responsible for this violent act.
Within a week, a significant development emerged in the case. On May 2, 2014, authorities, with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force, arrested 27-year-old Norman “Jookie” Koonce, Jr. of Savannah. Investigators identified Koonce as the individual responsible for the shootings of both Murphy and Moore.
Following his arrest, Koonce faced a litany of serious charges, including murder for the death of Quahfee Murphy. The additional charges brought against him were criminal attempted murder, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, and multiple counts of possession of a firearm by a first offender and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. The swift arrest brought a measure of progress to an investigation that had deeply affected the local community, though the motive for the shooting was not immediately made public.
