Charles Smith, 29
Savannah, Georgia
September 18, 2014
Agencies: Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department Georgia SCMPD | Georgia Bureau of Investigation GBI
Last updated: about 1 year ago
Overview 
According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, SCMPD officers arrested Charles Smith, 29, on outstanding warrants. Police placed Smith under arrest and he was handcuffed behind his back and placed in a patrol car.
After being placed into the patrol car, Smith was able to move his hands to the front of his body and kicked out the window of the patrol car.
Officers said Smith attempted to exit the patrol car and they saw he had a firearm. Smith was then shot and killed at the scene. During the crime scene investigation, a firearm was found under Smith's body.
Legal Action
February 2015 No criminal charges
March 2015 The case of Charles Smith, a black man who was killed by a white Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police officer in September, may be headed to not one, but two grand jury hearings.
Community and Family Efforts
September 2014 Protest
Additional Resources:
- http://www.blufftontoday.com/bluffton-news/2014-09-24/city-releases-arrest-video-suspect-killed-savannah-chatham-police-officer added Oct 25, 2016
- http://gbi.georgia.gov/press-releases/2014-09-18/gbi-requested-investigate-officer-involved-shooting-chatham-county added Oct 25, 2016
- http://mashable.com/2014/09/18/georgia-shooting/#YT71BGcfakq3 added Oct 25, 2016
- http://savannahnow.com/news-latest-news/2015-02-26/charles-smith-family-wants-3-million-wrongful-death added Oct 25, 2016
- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/renaldo-pearson/charles-smith-hestilldese_b_5980490.html added Oct 25, 2016
- http://www.wtoc.com/story/26639167/protesters-march-to-courthouse-prepare-for-public-viewing added Mar 28, 2016
- http://www.wtoc.com/story/28086677/da-meg-heap-takes-unprecedented-step-in-charles-smith-case added Mar 28, 2016
- http://www.ajc.com/news/news/breaking-news/an-autopsy-but-few-answers-in-wake-of-savannah-sho/nhQ4d/ added Mar 28, 2016
- http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/feb/25/georgia-officer-handcuffed-man-criminal-charges added Mar 28, 2016
- https://www.facebook.com/KilledByPolice/posts/902630706431734 added Mar 28, 2016
- http://www.wtoc.com/story/26567695/gbi-investigating-after-1-man-killed-in-officer-involved-shooting added Mar 28, 2016