SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — An argument between two women escalated into a gunfight, injuring 11 people in a busy tourist area of Savannah, Georgia, late Saturday, according to authorities. This was one of five shootings in the city over the weekend, two of which were fatal.
Separate shootings on Friday left two people injured. On Saturday, two other shootings resulted in two deaths. The gunfight occurred just before midnight near Savannah’s Ellis Square.
According to Police Chief Lenny Gunther, the shooting began after two women argued in a business, which was not named.
“One shot rang out. That triggered other individuals to shoot,” he said. “We had multiple individuals discharge their weapons to shoot at each other, which resulted in multiple people getting shot.”
Ten of the 11 injured were struck by gunfire. Authorities did not clarify what caused the 11th injury. Victims received treatment at the scene, with several transported to a hospital. None of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening.
Mayor Van Johnson cited the proliferation of guns as a factor in the shootings, advocating for reasonable gun control laws and stressing the importance of responsible gun ownership and use.
“We have to insist on smart gun laws,” Johnson said at a Sunday news conference. “And then, on the other end, we have to insist that people act responsibly with those weapons.”
The incident occurred a week prior to the tourist-heavy Memorial Day weekend. Gunther assured the public that police staffing would be adequate to ensure safety.
Ellis Square is in Savannah’s historic district, popular with both tourists and locals. Developed in 2010, it features a large fountain and a life-sized statue of songwriter Johnny Mercer.
The first two of Savannah’s weekend shootings happened Friday, each resulting in a non-life-threatening injury and an arrest. On Saturday, police found a dead juvenile in a home invasion case, with initial reports indicating shots were fired after a resident confronted an armed intruder.
Another shooting occurred at a Savannah intersection Saturday night, resulting in the death of one man and injury to a juvenile.
