3 SHOOTINGS LINKED BY DRUGS, GANGS

Police Directing More Resources In Stepped-Up Investigation Of Westside Violence.

Three shootings late Tuesday and early Wednesday sent police
scrambling to try and prevent a homicide from occurring, said
Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Chief Michael Berkow.

Police said Wednesday that no one was injured during the shootings,
but homes were targeted as part of westside gang activity related to
drugs.

As of late Wednesday, police had recovered two weapons and had
identified six people of interest. They are not considered suspects,
but Berkow said evidence suggests they might know something about the
crimes. Police are looking for the following people: [redacted]

The first armed assault occurred around 10 p.m. in the 600 block of
40th Lane. Doneva Bias-Pierce told officers three men chased another
man down the street, firing shots, according to a police report. She
dove into her vehicle as two stray bullets struck the roof and back
window.

Later, around 11 p.m., police fielded reports of a home being shot up
in the 600 block of West 48th Street. Police responded and recovered
about 25 bullets from two guns outside the home.

A third home in the 600 block of West 44th Street also was shot up by
gunmen around 3 a.m. Wednesday.

That assault started a fire in a front room of the house. Residents of
that home said they dove for cover when they heard shots, and they
didn't come out until they heard sirens, according to a report.

Berkow said all three of the shootings share a common thread: Someone
who resides in or frequents the area was the intended target, and that
person likely was involved in the illegal drug trade.

Michael Mobley, who owns the home shot up around 11 p.m., said his
stepson might have been the one sought by the gunmen.

"I don't know for sure if he is in a gang, but I know he hangs around
them," Mobley said. "A year and a half ago, someone tried to shoot
him. ... It wasn't life-threatening, and I don't know where it
happened exactly. But I called police then, too."

The violence Tuesday night and Wednesday morning left homes riddled
with bullets and some fire damage.

Berkow is concerned that the next shooting will claim a human
life.

"Let's not wait until we have a homicide," Berkow said at a Wednesday
afternoon news conference.

He announced he put an extra 50 officers on the west side. Police met
Wednesday afternoon at the Savannah Civic Center to receive fliers of
the persons of interest.

He said investigators are using information from covert, undercover
detectives, and SCMPD has asked the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to
expedite its forensic examination of the evidence.

"This is a very fast-moving investigation," Berkow said. "At 12:30
today I didn't have names, only street names. And now, five and a half
hours later, I do. That shows good, strong investigative work."

Berkow said the public can help by coming forward with information on
the six people of interest or providing information on the crimes.

"These are reluctant victims," Berkow said. "They aren't calling or
cooperating with us.

"We need to be aggressive about getting these weapons and suspects off
the street."

The following individuals are not considered suspects, but Police
Chief Michael Berkow said evidence suggests they might know something
about recent shootings.