Uncle, nephew face judge for first time in connection with Frazier Homes killing

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Two men accused of shooting and killing John Oliver at Frazier Homes on Dec. 28 appeared before a judge Tuesday for their first preliminary hearing.

John Coleman and his nephew Shaheem Coleman were both denied bond. The case is now bound to Superior Court.

Argument preceded shooting, detective testifies

Savannah Police Corporal Bradley Carles testified that the case stems from an argument involving several middle-school-aged girls, including Shaheem Coleman’s sister. That argument led to adults becoming involved and an unresolved dispute that ultimately led to Oliver’s death.

Carles told the court that Oliver suffered multiple gunshot wounds. Those wounds were to his left foot, legs, torso, neck, head, hands and arms. He died at the scene.

Officers recovered 30 shell casings and documented damage to a nearby apartment and a parked vehicle.

“Witness A heard John Coleman say something along the lines of, ‘I’ll come back and spray this whole place up,’” Carles said.

Carles said a witness overheard Oliver’s response. “He isn’t about that, or he isn’t about that type of thing, something along those lines,” he said.

“He went to his breezeway and told Jabria to take the kids inside... which she did.”

Surveillance footage, firearms evidence

Investigators said surveillance cameras did not capture the shooting. However, a camera captured a white Nissan Maxima leaving the area and returning shortly before the shooting.

Carles stated the footage showed multiple people exit the vehicle, including both John and Shaheem Coleman, before walking toward the location where the shooting occurred.

“As they’re walking, they both have dark-colored clothes on. They’re both holding one hand to their waist, indicative of holding something in their waistband,” Carles said.

Weapons testing ongoing

While investigators continue testing firearms parts and a barrel recovered from a location linked to Shaheem Coleman, questions about the weapons arose during cross-examination as the defense pressed Carles on what has been connected to the shooting.

Carles testified that no weapon has yet been confirmed as connected to the shell casings recovered at the scene.

He said the barrel may be matched to some of the projectiles recovered and that testing is still ongoing.