Savannah murder case ends in plea deals as 2 defendants detail deadly shooting that killed innocent bystander

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - A Savannah murder case has ended in a plea deal for both of the people accused in a deadly 2025 shooting that killed an innocent bystander.

44-year-old Marion Hutchinson and 45-year-old Charles Anthony Barnes were both charged with killing 26-year-old Frederick Hampton Jr.

The shooting happened at 1200 block of Rogers St on the night of September 20, 2025.

See previous coverage from the night of this shooting: www.wtoc.com/2025/09/21/spd-responds-fatal-shooting-saturday-night/

Hutchinson pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the case. His original charges of party to a crime of malice murder, felony murder, and gun charges were reduced as part of an open-ended, partially negotiated plea agreement.

Hutchinson was sentenced to 7 years, with credit for time served. According to jail records, he has been incarcerated for nearly one year and two months, leaving approximately 5 years and 10 months remaining on his sentence.

As part of the agreement, Hutchinson’s aggravated assault charge and three counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony were also dropped.

Had the case gone to trial and Hutchinson been convicted on the original charges, he faced a potential sentence of two life sentences plus 40 years.

During the plea hearing, prosecutors outlined what they said the evidence would have shown had the case gone to trial.

According to the prosecution, Hutchinson and the family of his co-defendant, Charles Barnes had a history of conflict. Barnes’ brother had previously been convicted of aggravated assault for shooting Hutchinson. Ten days before the September 20, 2025, fatal shooting, Hutchinson had also been charged with aggravated assault in a separate incident involving Barnes’ brother.

The prosecutor said Hutchinson and Barnes’ brother later communicated through a third party and agreed to put their differences behind them.

On September 20, 2025, Hutchinson was at a local gathering place known as a “shot house” in Chatham County, where people gather to drink before going out. He had been drinking and planned to go to a local bar or pool hall to play pool with friends.

When Hutchinson went outside, Charles Barnes, also known as “Wop,” approached him with a firearm. According to the prosecutor, Barnes said something to the effect of, “No one is going to run up on my brother,” before pointing the gun at Hutchinson and firing.

Hutchinson attempted to run but was struck by a bullet in his lower leg, leaving a scar. He then took cover, pulled out his own firearm and fired three shots back at Barnes.

The prosecutor said Barnes’ gun had jammed while Hutchinson was returning fire. Investigators found two unspent shell casings that had been cleared from Barnes’ weapon.

Hutchinson then ran around the house and managed to reach his vehicle and drive away.

During the exchange of gunfire, Frederick Hampton Jr., who was also outside the house, was struck and killed in the crossfire.

See coverage of vigil held by Hampton Jr.’s family: www.wtoc.com/2025/09/28/family-holds-vigil-after-savannah-man-killed-shooting-last-weekend/

The prosecutor said Hutchinson became emotional when he realized one of the bullets he fired may have killed his friend.

According to the prosecution, Hutchinson met with the prosecutor, his defense attorney and the detective investigating the case. The detective believed Hutchinson was truthful based on his account, witness statements, photographs of the scene and other forensic evidence.

The prosecutor told the court that the State’s evidence would have shown Hutchinson was shot first, wounded in the leg and returned fire, unintentionally killing Hampton in the process.

When the judge asked whether forensic evidence established which gun fired the bullet that killed Hampton, the prosecutor said the State believed it was a shot fired by Hutchinson.

Separately, Charles Barnes has taken a non-negotiated guilty plea.

See previous reporting on his arrest: www.wtoc.com/2025/10/09/felon-arrested-charged-with-murder-last-months-deadly-shooting-rogers-st/

He pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. That plea deal dropped his malice murder, felony murder, agg assault, and other possession of a firearm during a felony charges.

He was sentenced to 6 years in confinement, plus 5 years of probation. He does get credit for time already served, which is just over a year.

Conditions of his sentence include no contact with the family, no alcohol drugs or anywhere that serves alchohol or drugs, or be in any home where that is present. He is banned from West Savannnah. He must obtain lawful employment and cannot be around any firearms.

Both men reportedly attempted to cooperate in this investigation. Barnes apologized to the victim’s family in open court.

Victim’s Family Speaks

During the sentencing hearing, Frederick Hampton’s mother delivered an emotional victim impact statement, describing the devastating loss her family has endured.

She told the court Frederick was a devoted son, grandson, nephew, cousin and brother, but perhaps his most meaningful role was being a father.

In 2020, Frederick became a father to his son. His mother said he embraced fatherhood with pride, love and dedication, stepped up, took responsibility and made his son his priority.

But the family had already experienced another devastating loss before Frederick’s death. More than a year earlier, they lost his son in a drowning accident. His mother said Frederick was still trying to find his way through the heartbreak of losing his son and was only beginning to recover when his own life was taken.

She described Frederick as someone who never met a stranger, with a smile that could brighten a room and leave a lasting impression.

His mother told the court that on the night he was killed, Frederick was attempting to defuse an argument and prevent the situation from escalating.

“That was the kind of person he was. He did not deserve to lose his life for trying to bring peace to a situation,” she said.

She explained that his death affected far more than one person, saying the family had lost a son, brother, father, grandson, nephew and friend.

His absence, she said, is felt in everyday moments, family gatherings and milestones he will never get to experience. She told the court his future was taken, and with it, so much of the family’s future changed forever.

Acknowledging that no sentence could bring her son back, apologize for what happened or restore what the family lost, she asked the judge to consider the magnitude of Frederick’s death and its lasting impact.

“I’m asking the Court to impose the maximum sentence allowed by law not because a sentence will heal our wounds but because Frederick’s life mattered. His life had value, his future mattered, and the consequences of taking his life should reflect the seriousness of that loss,” she told the court.

She said her family would never have the opportunity to watch Frederick grow older, celebrate his accomplishments or see him rebuild his life after losing his son.

Family holds vigil after Savannah man killed in shooting last weekend

She ended by thanking the court for hearing her family’s pain and allowing Frederick to be remembered for more than the circumstances of his death.

During his sentencing hearing, Charles Barnes addressed the court and apologized to Frederick Hampton’s family, repeatedly insisting that he never intended to kill Hampton and that the shooting stemmed from a yearslong dispute with Marion Hutchinson.

Barnes told the judge he and Hutchinson had been involved in disagreements for years, including incidents in which he claimed Hutchinson shot his brothers.

He said the confrontation on the night Hampton was killed began when he and Hutchinson crossed paths in the street and started arguing.

Barnes admitted that his anger toward Hutchinson escalated the situation and acknowledged reaching for his gun.

“I had -- this -- this was a total stupidity on my part. I didn’t have no intentions for this -- for this family to go through this. This is not what -- what I had planned or -- no plan. This is out of stupidity and anger with Mr. Hutchinson,” Barnes told the court.

Barnes claimed he fired his gun once into the ground during the confrontation, rather than directly at Hutchinson. He maintained that he never intended to kill anyone and suggested the bullet may have ricocheted.

“My bullet didn’t hit him. I’m sorry that it did,” Barnes said, referring to Hampton.

Barnes repeatedly denied responsibility for Hampton’s death, telling the court that while he accepted responsibility for his actions, he did not believe he should be held responsible for murder.

“I’m sorry for it, sir, but I’m not a murderer. My bullet didn’t kill the young man, the young man that died, sir,” Barnes said.

He also disputed the suggestion that Hampton had been attempting to break up the confrontation.

Coverage from the night of the shooting:

Barnes told the judge he never saw Hampton during the argument or shooting and only learned of his death afterward.

“He was never in our presence, never. He was on the side somewhere,” Barnes said. Barnes acknowledged that he and Hutchinson had been arguing before both men pulled their guns.He described the dispute as an exchange of insults and profanity, saying there had been no physical fight before the firearms came out.

Barnes claimed Hutchinson reached for his gun first, prompting Barnes to reach for his own weapon and fire.

At one point, Barnes directly addressed Hampton’s mother, apologizing for the loss of her son and asking for forgiveness.

“Ms. Hutchinson -- Ms. Hampton, ma’am, I really am sorry for what happened to your son, sir. I had no intentions for this to happen at all,” Barnes said.

“The fact still remains, both of you were standing in the middle of the street like it’s an O.K. Corral -- particularly, when you weren’t even supposed to have a weapon,” the judge told Barnes.

The judge said he could not understand why people continued to settle disputes with firearms, particularly on the streets of West Savannah.

“For some reason you prefer to resolve issues in a confrontational way, and you think that you can back it up with a weapon,” the judge told Barnes.

The judge also told Barnes he appeared to have a quick temper and needed to learn to control his anger.

It’s unclear which prisons the 2 men will serve their sentences at.