What we know about the fatal SPD-involved shooting in Savannah’s Plant Riverside District

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - At the request of the Savannah Police Department, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is investigating an officer-involved shooting in Savannah.

The GBI identified the armed —now deceased— suspect as Mark Dennis Whibbey, Jr., age 27, of Seabrook, South Carolina.

No officers were injured in this incident.

What Led to the Incident

Savannah Police say officers received reports of an individual carrying a gun downtown on January 22, 2026, at about 1:30 p.m. Officers responded to a 911 call reporting a man waving a firearm in the street outside a business on West Congress Street. Another 911 call reported a man shoplifting and carrying a firearm at a convenience store located at the intersection of Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive and Bay Street.

The officers made contact with Whibbey and issued verbal commands for him to drop the firearm. Whibbey did not comply and continued walking north on Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive toward the Riverwalk area.

The Scene

The shooting occurred near the intersection of Bay Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, a busy area frequented by tourists and locals.

Witnesses described a chaotic scene as people began running through the streets moments before gunshots were heard.

Jeni Davault, general manager of Poe’s Tavern, said she watched the incident unfold from inside the restaurant.

“We saw everybody running down the road, and then we heard five gunshots a few minutes after that,” Davault said.

Davault explained that officers initially encountered the suspect in a nearby parking lot. As the suspect walked away, two officers pursued him, and one officer deployed a taser.

“You could clearly see he had a handgun in his hand as he was walking away in our camera footage,” Davault said. “They were trying to reason with him.”

Suspect Raises Weapon, Witnesses Say

Officers continued following the suspect down MLK Boulevard toward River Street. Video provided by witnesses shows a man wearing a white T-shirt holding an object in his right hand.

Video surveillance footage shows that officers were able to isolate Whibbey in one of the expanded Riverwalk sections.

Investigators say Whibbey began pacing and holding a firearm at his side.

According to Davault, the suspect raised his weapon during the encounter.

“Apparently he did raise his weapon and after a couple of seconds of trying to reason with him, that’s when they tried to disarm him I suppose,” Davault said.

Shots Fired

According to the GBI, video surveillance obtained by investigators shows that Whibbey refused to comply with commands and began walking towards civilians and officers with the gun in his right hand.

They say Whibbey reached behind his back with his left hand toward an object in his rear waistband.

Five Savannah Police Department officers fired at Whibbey, hitting him multiple times.

Witness Rhonda Fastzkie reported hearing those gunshots once the suspect was out of sight.

“And when he got out of sight that’s when we heard the gunshots. Six,” Fastzkie said.

Witnesses reported hearing approximately five or six shots fired during the incident.

Medical aid was given but Whibbey was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigation Ongoing

Police shut down the area for just over two hours following the shooting.

After reopening the streets to traffic, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation was on the scene collecting evidence.

The GBI is handling the investigation, which is standard policy in the event of an officer-involved shooting.

The body will be taken to the GBI Pooler Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy.

Once the investigation is complete, the case file will be given to the Eastern Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review.

Tips and Information

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to call the GBI Regional Investigative Office at 770-388-5019.

Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.

There is no ongoing threat to the public.