2 suspects in viral stomping video in Downtown Savannah indicted on agg assault, battery charges

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Two of the suspects charged in a violent attack of an unconscious man in downtown Savannah have now been indicted on more severe charges.

You’ll remember the video was shared on social media, showing the victim being stomped on, while knocked out.

Those 2 people charged in the attack itself- Elijawan Wilson and Tania Phillips have now had their charges upgraded by the grand jury.

Wilson was already previously denied bond in a separate court hearing.

Both were indicted on aggravated assault & battery charges this week, for ‘stomping and causing visible bodily harm to the victim, who investigators say they do not know.

Aggravated assault alone, if convicted, carries a sentence of 1-20 years in Georgia. Next they will make their plea before a judge on these charges.

A separate man was arrested last week on robbery charges, Touray Williams Jr., for allegedly going in the victim’s pockets while he was unconscious.

The Judge denying him bond, saying he is a danger to society.

Investigators said that on the morning of June 18, at approximately 2:30 a.m., that assault occurred near Ellis Square in which Wilson can be seen on a viral video stomping and kicking the head, neck, and face of a man, who was already on the ground and unconscious.

The investigator said the victim can be seen limp and unresponsive in the video as Wilson continued to strike him.

Approximately 6 individuals were seen around the victim during the attack, but the investigator said Wilson was the predominant aggressor, and that no one stepped in to stop it.

A co-defendant, Tania Phillips, was also originally charged with battery in connection with the incident, and investigators say she can be seen in the video striking the victim and dragging him on the pavement.

That victim was transported to the hospital, where he underwent CT scans, X-rays, and other body scans over approximately 24 hours.

The investigator said he had visible trauma to the head, face, and neck and complained of pain in his chest, back, and rib area when the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office went to check on him.

He told investigators he does not remember the attack and only recalled exiting a bar before being assaulted by multiple individuals.

A stationary surveillance camera in the area captured the entire incident. The video was also posted to a Facebook page. The investigator said the clothing and actions in both videos were consistent.

The video first gained traction when Sheriff Richard Coleman took to Facebook regarding the incident.

As he was being taken into the jail while WTOC was present, Wilson made a spontaneous statement, saying, “Whoopty do...Y’all got a Mr. Fighter.” which was caught on camera.

The court also noted a prior aggravated assault case from 2021 in which Wilson received a 10-year probation sentence under a first offender plea.

Both will appear for an arraignment in the coming weeks, the third suspect’s case is still expected to be reviewed by the grand jury soon.