‘Shotgun casing’, other items found at scene after Johnson Square triple shooting

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) – A triple shooting has rocked downtown Savannah on the weekend and left Johnson Square a crime scene.

A Savannah police report obtained by WTOC says shotgun casings, a firearm light mount, a bottle of unknown pills and a shot-up Tesla were what remained after three men were shot near Bull streets and Bryan around 1:20 am.

“The area where this event took place, there are cameras everywhere. The likelihood of you being caught on camera is significant,” said Jason Manley of SPD’s Criminal Investigations Division.

According to police, surveillance footage led investigators to arrest 27-year-old Jason Hazel.

The report says officers found Hazel shot in the arm.

He was taken to the hospital, where police say two other people shot in the incident showed up a short time later.

The shooting happened within walking distance of City Hall and Savannah’s popular nightlife area.

“It doesn’t look like it started at a bar. It seems like it actually started more or less on the street,” Manley said.

The incident comes less than six months after a mass shooting injured 11 people a block away in Ellis Square.

Police data shows a decrease in non-domestic aggravated assaults with a weapon in the area compared to this time last year.

Neighborhood leaders believe the number of violent crimes in the area is still too high.

“We’re sad when someone gets hurt, but we’re not surprised,” said the president of Savannah’s Downtown Neighborhood Association. “It’s not unusual for that area, unfortunately. When you see something like this happen after midnight or between one and three, it’s sad but not unexpected.

As the investigation into this latest round of gun violence continues, Hazel, who is a convicted felon, is charged with two counts of aggravated assault, possession of arson during the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and theft by receiving a stolen firearm.

According to a booking report from the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, Hazel has been arrested for probation violations and aggravated assault in the past.

Jail records show he was extradited to Oklahoma in August 2023.

There, Hazel was sentenced to 60 days behind bars as part of a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to drug charges, according to documents obtained from the Canadian county.

Police have not released any information about the other two people who were shot.

Investigators tell WTOC they are cooperating and more arrests are possible in the case.