ByWTOC Staff
Published:Dec. 21, 2021 at 11:32 PM EST
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - A suspect was killed in an officer-involved shooting Tuesday night in Savannah.
According to the Savannah Police Department, it happened late Tuesday night in the 1900 block of Vassar Street. The investigation was turned over to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI).
A news release from the GBI states that Savannah officers initiated a traffic stop on a stolen 2013 silver BMW X1 based on a report from the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office. South Carolina authorities were investigating an aggravated assault incident where the victim suffered multiple skull fractures and had her car stolen.
Police believed that 45-year-old Shawn Martin had the car. According to the GBI, officers did not find Martin in the car; however, the driver told officers that Martin was at the driver’s mother’s home.
Officers then went to that home and received permission from the homeowner to search for Martin, according to the GBI. While searching the home, an officer opened a closet door and Martin came out swinging a knife.
The GBI states that officers gave verbal commands to drop the knife, but Martin did not comply. Two officers fired and hit Martin. First aid was administered at the scene and Martin was taken to a Savannah hospital where he was pronounced dead.
No officers were injured in the incident.
The GBI said a knife was recovered from the scene.
The GBI will conduct an independent investigation. Once complete, the casefile will be given to the Eastern Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review.
This is the 97th officer involved shooting the GBI has been requested to investigate in 2021.
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