SAVANNAH, GA (January 20, 2011): A 16-year-old charged Tuesday in a robbery spree now also has been charged with the Jan. 10 murder of a 78-year-old Savannah man.
Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police have charged Trevonte Edwards with the murder of John Green during an armed robbery as he was leaving the Chu’s Convenience store, 1015 Waters Avenue, on a Saturday morning..
Edwards, who was one of 10 probationers or paroles found Tuesday in a rooming house on 38th Street where police had chased a stolen car, had been charged Wednesday with two counts of armed robbery. The investigation into a string of nine armed robberies in a three-day period led to the murder charge.
Police determined Green was robbed of his wallet and shot as he walked to his pickup truck parked in front of the store where he had just purchased a loaf of bread. He died after he walked back into the store and collapsed. He was pronounced dead at Memorial University Medical Center.
Police had sought the public’s help in the investigation and had posted a video and photographs taken from it to help find three black males in dark, hooded jackets walking in the area as potential witnesses. Major Gerry Long, Commander of the SCMPD Criminal Investigations Division, said the investigation continues and police still are requesting information from anyone who may have been in the area.
Edwards was arrested along with four others, ranging from 16-23, after they were found in the rooming house where police had tracked a stolen car used in five armed robberies Monday night and Tuesday morning. At the rooming house police recovered items taken during some of the robberies, clothing described by robbery victims, an assault rifle, and a handgun.
Edwards has had nine referrals to Chatham County Juvenile Court since 2007, including charges of theft, obstruction, criminal trespass, and terroristic threats and acts. He was committed to the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice in 2009 for the offense of felony shoplifting.
A police canine led officers to the room after the SCMPD Neighborhood Task Force followed the stolen blue Toyota Camry reportedly used in most of the robberies into the area Tuesday. A bystander directed a passing detective to the lane between 37th and 38th streets and into the backyard of the rooming house.
Police continue to try to match the eight males and two females with recent armed robberies. They are contacting victims and witnesses from additional crimes in hopes of identifying suspects in those cases. So far, members of the group have been charged in as many as seven cases between Sunday and Tuesday .Other cases may be involved.
Darrell Golden, 17 and Edwards have been charged with two counts of armed robbery and forgery; Tommy Walker, 20, has been charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; a 16-year-old has been charged with a probation violation; and Patrick Davis, 23, has been charged with receiving stolen property.
Anyone with information on this homicide is asked to call Crimestoppers at (912) 234-2020 or text CRIMES (274637). In the body type, include “CStop2020” plus the tip. Tipsters remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.
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