‘People need to make better and smarter decisions’: Mayor reacts to mixed 2025 crime trends, deadly Target shooting

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Mayor Van Johnson responded to online criticism Tuesday following a deadly shooting outside a Target over an parking dispute, calling recent high-profile attacks “anomalies” and urging residents to make “better and smarter decisions.”

Johnson acknowledged the limits of policing while stressing that city and law enforcement officials are focused on controlling all that they can.

“We have on social media all of these police chiefs and law enforcement folks that don’t have no idea what they’re talking about — ‘oh you should’ve done this, you should’ve done this’ — you know the reality is that we control the things that we can control,” he said. “We need people to make better and smarter decisions.”

Johnson also pointed to the city’s recently obtained 2025 crime report to put the incidents in context. The report which does not include the final four days of the year shows a net increase of 22 incidents in overall violent crime, with rises in homicides, robberies and assaults not involving firearms.

At the same time, the city recorded fewer property crimes and declines in firearm assaults and reported rapes.

The mayor said the upward ticks represent isolated events rather than a broader reversal in safety, noting that overall crime in 2025 remained lower than in 2023 — a trend he described as continued progress for Savannah.

Johnson specifically referenced two recent, unusual attacks: an acid attack near Forsyth Park a few weeks ago and Sunday’s shooting outside Target.

He said incidents like the acid attack are difficult for police to anticipate and prepare for, and he emphasized jurisdictional limits in the Target case, noting the parking lot where the fatal shooting occurred is private property owned by Target.

Those jurisdictional and situational complexities have been central to local debate online, where critics have argued for different policing tactics.

Johnson responded that while law enforcement can tighten deployments, enforce closures and increase patrols around major events, officials cannot control individual behavior.

The comments come as Savannah prepares for major upcoming events — including the Martin Luther King Jr. parade and the city’s large St. Patrick’s Day celebrations — which draw hundreds of thousands of visitors.

City leaders say planning and targeted safety investments will be prioritized to manage crowds and reduce risks during the busy season.