Tyler Linn appears in court for fatal Target parking lot shooting
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Thursday the suspected shooter of a young father outside Target had his first hearing in front of a judge.
Detectives detailed what interaction in the parking lot led up to a shooting, and eventually Matthew’s death.
Tyler Linn was reportedly at Target with his wife.
Matthew Traywick was also at Target with his wife and three young children.
Linn’s wife went into the store at the same time the Traywick family came outside. Linn reportedly stayed in the car.
According to detective testimony, the two men got into a verbal argument in the parking lot but Tyler didn’t get out of the vehicle. An argument started through the passenger door window.
The video did capture the victim’s wife not being able to get in the car with her children as a potential cause of the dispute.
A brief verbal argument ensues. It’s not specified what’s said during this time.
The Traywicks leave the parking lot before detectives say Matthew drove back to that parking spot less than 1 minute later.
The detective testified that the Traywicks have two children under two years old, and their four or five-year-old child present as well at the time of the shooting.
Matthew’s wife also witnessed her husband’s death. Linn’s wife was reportedly inside at the time of the shooting.
The detective said a photo was captured of the defendant pointing a gun at the victim.
Video from Target’s surveillance cameras capture some of the initial parking lot dispute but not the 2nd interaction the men had, which was fatal.
The 2nd argument Linn does get out of the vehicle, according to the detective.
The detective said Linn got out of the passenger seat, took his gun out during the argument, and had it down at his side during the argument.
The victim had his phone with him, and when the gun was brandished- the victim flinched, the detective testified.
The detective also testified that the following interaction between the two men included questions and statements like:
“Are you going to shoot me?”
“I really don’t want to but you wont leave me alone.”
“I knew he didn’t have a gun because of the way he flinched when I brought mine up.”
The detective said no gun was found on the victim, or in the car.
Detectives found three shell casings total but say the victim had three gunshot wounds to his body.
An autopsy and toxicology test was performed, and is being tested at the crime lab.
Detective with Savannah Police’s homicide unit said on January 4th he also interviewed Tyler Linn at the precinct following his arrest.
Skye Musson is representing Linn.
The detective said when they arrived on scene, Linn had dismantled his gun and put it on the roof of his vehicle, and according to them, told officers he shot Matthew.
Tyler is the one who called 911 reportedly.
Search warrants have been done on both Tyler and Matthews phones.
Detectives testified to the Judge that Tyler told detectives, “He did not believe the victim had a gun based on the way he flinched at Tyler’s gun.
Matt’s wife has given a statement to police as the only adult witness aside from the suspect.
He is being charged with aggravated assault and felony murder.
Those charges were bound up to to superior court.
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