*Forty witnesses have come forward that he was shot in the back while surrendering to the police.
* – Sarcasm
Via WISTV
Police have cleared the scene in the area of Augusta Avenue in west Savannah after an officer involved shooting early Thursday afternoon. GBI has been brought in to investigate the incident.
According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, SCMPD officers arrested Charles Smith, 29, on outstanding warrants. Police placed Smith under arrest and he was handcuffed behind his back and placed in a patrol car.
After being placed into the patrol car, Smith was able to move his hands to the front of his body and kicked out the window of the patrol car.
Officers said Smith attempted to exit the patrol car and saw they he had a firearm. Smith was then shot and killed at the scene. During the crime scene investigation, a firearm was found under Smith’s body.
The coroner arrived at the scene around 2:30 p.m. and the body has been removed.
Mayor Edna Jackson and Police Chief Julie Tolbert addressed the crowd that gathered around the scene saying this is a sad day in the community and they are doing everything to make sure the truth comes out.[…]
Police have asked people to avoid the area.
Jackson and Tolbert promised the crowd that the situation will be handled correctly and they plan to keep the family and community informed on what’s going on.
“This will be cleared up, this will be cleared up,” Jackson said. “As I said, I did talk to the mother. We don’t need anything to happen and we are going to keep the family and the community informed about everything that is going on.”