Port Wentworth murder suspect asks for bond, judge still deciding

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - A well-known suspect in a 2024 Port Wentworth murder case is now asking a judge to grant him bond while his case moves through the courts.

You may remember the incident on November 30, 2024, when Antwan Small was shot and killed at his grandmother’s home on Saussy Road in Port Wentworth.

The shooting took place during what authorities describe as a custody exchange involving Small and his ex-wife.

According to the state, Small was at his grandmother’s home with his 6-year-old daughter and was on the phone with his ex-wife about picking their daughter up.

That’s when, prosecutors say, 47-year-old Frederic Green — the boyfriend of Small’s ex-wife — pulled into the driveway and allegedly shot Small in front of both the child and her great-grandmother.

Green was arrested for Small’s murder and was indicted last month on several charges, including malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

Atwan Small was a father of 7, who now have to live without their father. Green is also a father of 4 children with his ex-wife.

The day after the shooting, Green was found 12 hours away in St. Louis, Missouri.

According to police, he led officers there on a high-speed chase that reached 120 miles per hour before he was caught and arrested. He was extradited back to Chatham County in March.

Now Green is asking to be released on bond. His attorney read character letters in court Friday, advocating for his release by highlighting Green’s previous involvement in the community.

You can find that coverage here, along with an interview with Small’s family.

Green’s attorney said that although he had previously served five years in prison, he made an effort to turn his life around afterward.

Green worked as a support and outreach coordinator for the End Gun Violence Initiative. He also served as the former chair of the Housing Committee and was co-chair of Mayor Van Johnson’s Reentry Task Force, known as ARCS, which helps formerly incarcerated individuals transition back into society after their release.

Green’s defense argued that with his community involvement and background, he is not a risk to public safety if released.

The state pushed back, arguing that the severity of the murder, combined with the fact that Green was captured more than 700 miles away in Missouri after allegedly fleeing the scene and leading police on a chase, makes him a flight risk if released on bond.

The judge did not make a final decision Friday, but said he is taking all arguments and evidence into consideration. A decision is expected before or on Monday.