– Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024 –
Good morning. With Hurricane Helene headed to visit Georgia late today, local officials are watching for impacts and announcing some closures. Stay vigilant.
Plus, we’re reporting on the rare indictment of a police officer for murder in Savannah and a new report about gun policies that could help stop suicides.
Questions, comments or story ideas? Email us at staff@thecurrenga.org.
NEWS: COURTS
Former Savannah cop indicted for murder
A Chatham County grand jury indicted a former Savannah Police Department officer for murdering 31-year-old Saudi Arai Lee in a 2022 encounter that body camera footage shows the white officer shot the Black man in the back.
Ernest Ferguson was indicted on Wednesday on three counts of felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault, one count of false imprisonment and two counts of making a false statement, according to the court document.
Just before the grand jury presentment, The Current reviewed a copy of Ferguson’s body camera footage. The district attorney called the footage “a critical piece of evidence,” at a Wednesday press conference.
Lee’s uncle, Timothy Lee, who is a commercial truck driver, said the news of the charges made him feel hopeful.
“I feel like justice is going to be served,” Timothy Lee said. “What happened was wrong.”
NEWS: PUBLIC SAFETY
Report: Which gun policies reduce deaths
A recent mass shooting in Georgia and ensuing statewide activism, including from students at Jenkins High School in Savannah, is increasing conversations over how best to respond to gun violence.
A new report from Rand, a nonprofit and nonpartisan research organization, has some answers.
It found that requiring a minimum age to purchase firearms appears to reduce suicides among young people. Laws aimed at safe storage of weapons — keeping guns locked away so children can’t easily access them — reduces the likelihood of unintentional shootings, suicides and homicides among youth, according to the study.
NEWS: PUBLIC SAFETY
Helene heads to Georgia
Forecasts of Hurricane Helene suggest tropical storm winds and some rain will impact Coastal Georgia.
A tropical storm warning is in effect from Darien to Charleston. School systems in Chatham, Effingham, Liberty and Glynn have announced closures or early ends to school days.
Gov. Brian Kemp announced that Georgia is under a state of emergency, freeing up disaster response funds and unilateral operations.
Last month, Tropical Storm Debby barreled through Coastal Georgia and brought heavy flooding to the region, especially parts of Savannah and Richmond Hill.
Keep an eye out for your county’s emergency management agencies for announcements to keep yourself safe. We’ve been compiling a page of updates and information at this link. Follow local National Weather Service advisories here. Stay safe and vigilant as the storm moves up from Florida.
Hurricane Helene: Updates
This page is dedicated to regular updates for Coastal Georgia during Hurricane Helene
Grand jury indicts Savannah policeman for 2022 murder of Saudi Lee
In 2022 Savannah experienced five fatal officer-involved shootings.Only one, a white cop who killed a 31-year-old Black man, has been charged.
Judge halts Sapelo zoning vote mid-election
A judge halted an ongoing vote in McIntosh County to repeal a zoning change granting larger houses on Sapelo Island’s Hogg Hummock.
Q&A: Camden County Sheriff candidates
Camden County sheriff candidates give answers to same set of questions.
After Trump’s rally, who’s up, who’s down
Trump’s speech at the Johnny Mercer Theatre on Tuesday, which was prime viewing for Georgia GOP watchers in a state where the Republicans are experiencing a Cold War.
Safe storage, minimum age gun laws would curb violence, study says
Research indicated that laws aimed at reducing children’s access to stored guns may also lower rates of firearm suicides, unintentional shootings and firearm homicides among youth.
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