Police arrest 21-year-old in MLK Jr. Blvd. fatal shooting; third homicide in two days

The Savannah Police Department (SPD) arrested a 21-year-old man, Nathaniel Leonard Lewis, and charged him with murder following a fatal shooting near Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and W. 35 Street. The arrest was confirmed in a press release from SPD Public Information Officer Neil Penttila.

The incident occurred early Saturday morning when police responded to a ShotSpotter alert at approximately 4:40 a.m. Upon arrival, officers found an adult male suffering from a gunshot wound, lying unresponsive in front of a residence. The victim was transported to Memorial Health University Medical Center, where he later succumbed to his injuries.

Along with murder, Lewis faces several charges including aggravated assault, tampering with evidence, obstruction of law enforcement, escape, and improper crossing of a roadway as a pedestrian. The Chatham County Jail bookings website lists these charges as part of the ongoing investigation.

Mayor Van Johnson addressed the community on Facebook, noting that this shooting marked the third homicide in just two days. He outlined other incidents, including a fatal shooting on 56th Street that left one man dead and another injured, as well as another deadly shooting near W. 37th Street. He emphasized the importance of community involvement in providing information to assist the SPD in their investigations.

Mayor Johnson expressed appreciation for the efforts of the SPD during these challenging incidents, urging anyone with information to contact Savannah-Chatham CrimeStoppers. He highlighted the determination of law enforcement to ensure accountability for these violent acts within the community.