SAVANNAH,GA ( May 25 2012): Information being provided on the shooting death of an 18-year-old high school student found on East 54th Street on April 19 has decreased and police are hoping the public can provide more.
The focus has been placed on a two-hour period before Donte Cleophus Swan, 18, of the 100 block of Heritage Way, was found dead in the street between Bull and Abercorn at 8:20 p.m.
Swan had left his father’s window tinting and stereo shop on East Derrenne Avenue about two hours before in his blue, 1983 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. The car was found abandoned with the stereo and lights on at Maupus and Harmon streets a few minutes after the shooting.
Violent Crimes detectives from Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police think the whereabouts of the car in those two hours could be instrumental in tying together other bits of information that have been uncovered and are hoping members of the public will help.
“The car was painted a distinctive shade of blue and stood out,” said Capt. Dean Fagerstrom of the SCMPD Violent Crimes Division. “In fact, it was located so quickly after the shooting because someone who recognized it as belonging to the victim called to report its location. It could be very helpful to us to know where it was before the shooting.”
Residents on 54th Street reported hearing shots and two vehicles speeding away before finding Swan. They attempted to provide first aid until police and emergency services could arrive. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police suspect the area where the body was found had no relation to the crime itself. They feel the victim and shooter were passing through when the shooting occurred.
Although the shooting actually took place outside Ardsley Park, the Ardsley Park Chatham Crescent Neighborhood Association has provided additional reward money to that already offered by Crimestoppers for information that could lead to the arrest and conviction of the shooter. Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call Crimestoppers at (912) 234-2020 or text CRIMES (274637). Tipsters remain anonymous and may qualify for the cash reward.
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