Five years later, Savannah mass shooting remains unsolved

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Five years ago today, two young fathers were killed, and 6 other people were injured when gunfire erupted at Fred Wessels Homes along Avery Street.

Arthur Milton, 19, and Terryl Coleman, 26, died in the June 11, 2021 mass shooting in Savannah. Among the injured was an 18-month-old child. In the last five years, no arrests have been made.

A candlelight vigil was held on Avery Street Thursday, where dozens of friends and family gathered to remember the two young fathers and not give up on the investigation.

“I’m going to get justice for my son and I ain’t going to let it go. I’m not going to let it go” Terryl Coleman’s mother Melissa Maner said.

“There has been days where I want to give up because that’s my baby. It’s hard to lose a child to gunfire,” Arthur Milton’s mother Ayanna Hill said.

Both mothers say they’re not at the vigil to mark an anniversary, but to speak out to the community and law enforcement for answers.

“How are we going to start solving murders and stuff if yall don’t step up and talk? Talk! If y’all say you love my son like y’all love my son, step up and talk,” Maner said.

The shooting

Savannah Police say multiple people in a car drove by the Fred Wessels Homes around 9 p.m. that night and opened fire. Police recovered 60 shell casings at the scene. Three apartments and six cars were hit with bullets.

Milton died from his injuries that night. Coleman died three days later on June 14.

The shooting stemmed from a conflict between two groups, according to the police chief at the time.

“They drove by and just rained bullets,” said Savannah Police Detective Tarra Smith in a previous interview.

The victims

Coleman had five children. Milton had a daughter who was seven months old when he died.

“I look his little girl in the face everyday and it hurts that I see him,” said Ayanna Hill, Milton’s mother, in a 2022 interview.

Hill buried her son the day after he would’ve turned 20 years old.

The investigation

The biggest issue in solving the case is that no eyewitnesses have come forward, police said.

A dark, possibly red sedan was seen leaving the area that night.

“Witnesses saw it, but to place a shooter in the red sedan is a different story,” said SPD Detective Smith.

Detectives say a potential retaliatory shooting happened three weeks later. Detectives are still hopeful that DNA can be tested from the shell casings at the scene.

Both state and federal law enforcement agencies assisted the Savannah Police Department with the investigation.

Call for tips

Police are asking the public for tips.

“I want the suspects to know that it’s not if-- it’s when... Your time will come for justice & this will catch up with you,” said Smith.

Anyone with information can contact Savannah Police Department’s Homicide Unit at (912) 651-4362, the Violent Crime Tip Line at (912) 525-3124 or Crimestoppers at (912) 234-2020. Tipsters remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.