“Shell casings,” other items found at the scene after the Johnson Square triple shooting

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) – A triple shooting has rocked downtown Savannah on weekends and left Johnson Square a crime scene.

A Savannah police report obtained by WTOC says shell casings, a firearm flashlight, a bottle of unknown pills and a fired Tesla are what remained after three men were shot near Bull and Bryan streets around 1:20 a.m. Sunday .

“There are cameras everywhere in the area where this particular incident happened. The likelihood of being caught on camera is significant,” said Jason Manley of SPD’s Criminal Investigations Division.

Using surveillance cameras, investigators arrested 27-year-old Jason Hazel, police said.

The report said police found Hazel shot in the arm.

He was taken to the hospital, where, according to the police, two more people shot during the incident soon appeared.

The shooting happened just yards from City Hall and Savannah’s popular nightlife district.

“It doesn’t seem like it started in a bar. It seems like it really started more or less on the street,” Manley said.

The incident comes less than six months after a mass shooting that left 11 people injured in Ellis Square in one block.

Police figures show a decrease in the number of aggravated assaults with weapons compared to this time last year.

District leaders believe the violent crime rate in the area is still too high.

“We’re sad when someone gets hurt, but we’re not surprised,” said the president of the Savannah Downtown Area Association. “Unfortunately, this is not unusual for this area. When you see something like this happen after midnight or between one and three, it’s sad, but not unexpected.

As the investigation into this latest round of gun violence continues, Hazel, who is a convicted felon, has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and theft by receiving a stolen firearm.

According to a booking report from the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, Hazel has been arrested for probation violation and aggravated assault in the past.

According to the prison, he was extradited to Oklahoma in August 2023.

Hazell was sentenced to 60 days behind bars as part of a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to drug charges, according to documents obtained from the Canadian District.

Police have not released any information about the other two people who were shot.

Investigators tell WTOC they are cooperating and more arrests are possible in the case.