Records detail background of man killed in Savannah officer-involved shooting

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Authorities are working to determine what led to an officer-involved shooting that left a man dead in Savannah on Tuesday.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said the shooting happened after the man attacked one female Savannah police officer and then tried to attack a second female officer. The second officer shot the man, the GBI said.

The suspect was identified as 35-year-old Nicholaus Oxendine.

The GBI said two female officers were patrolling around 7:15 a.m. Tuesday when they saw Oxendine loitering near a closed business. The officers stopped to question him, and that is when the attack occurred, the agency said.

New details on suspect’s background

Records reviewed in Chatham County show Oxendine had an extensive but nonviolent criminal history that included burglary, violating probation, trespassing and theft.

He had been to the jail 16 times and to Johnson State Prison twice, according to records.

Records also show Oxendine was on active probation at the time he encountered the officers and had an active warrant out for his arrest. He was released from jail about a month ago after his most recent arrest, according to the records.

WTOC also learned Oxendine was a known homeless person in Savannah.

Staff at the Savannah City Mission said Oxendine was banned from the shelter about four years ago. Staff said he was giving “inappropriate envelopes of body clippings” to females at a time when the shelter was not male-only.

Staff said Oxendine came to the shelter the day before the shooting and caused a disturbance outside before being asked to leave.

Questions remain as investigation continues

Savannah Mayor Van Johnson said both officers were doing OK after he visited them in the hospital.

WTOC said it has sent two names to Savannah Police seeking confirmation that the names are the two officers involved in the shooting.

The station said it has requested the personnel files for those two officers and has not yet received a response.

WTOC also went to 520 Wings, near where the shooting happened.

A manager said the shooting did not happen on the restaurant’s property, but close by, and said the GBI had not come to review the restaurant’s surveillance footage.

The restaurant’s manager said it is common for homeless people to be in the area but that the business typically does not have issues.