On December 3, 2025, 49-year-old female Tonya Sellers was fatally shot during a domestic incident in Savannah, Georgia. The violent encounter occurred in the 12000 block of Middleground Road, a location where Sellers had reportedly conducted business and attempted to assist the suspect involved. Savannah Police Department officers were initially dispatched to the scene around 10:40 a.m. following reports of threats being made against the victim.
While law enforcement was en route to the location, the situation escalated into a shooting, and officers were updated with a description of the gunman and his vehicle upon their arrival.
First responders discovered Sellers at the scene suffering from a serious gunshot wound. She was provided with immediate medical assistance and transported to Memorial Health University Medical Center for emergency treatment. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, she ultimately succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital. Family members later described Sellers as an independent businesswoman and a loving mother who had a generous spirit, noting that she had previously hired the suspect to drive a truck for her business and had given him a place to stay when he was looking for work. Reports indicate that on the day of the shooting, Sellers may have been attempting to evict the man or sever their business arrangement due to his background.
The suspect identified in the investigation is 53-year-old Pierre Byrd. As police arrived at the Middleground Road scene, Byrd was observed fleeing the area in a vehicle. A brief pursuit ensued, ending when Byrd exited his vehicle and attempted to escape on foot. Officers quickly apprehended him after a short chase. Byrd was taken into custody and subsequently charged with murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. He was booked into the Chatham County Detention Center as the investigation continued into the fatal events of that morning.
