Charles Smith, 29
Savannah, Georgia
September 18, 2014
Agencies: Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department Georgia SCMPD | Georgia Bureau of Investigation GBI
Cause of death: Shooting
Last updated: almost 5 years 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 October 25, 2016 09:01
- http://gbi.georgia.gov/press-releases/2014-09-18/gbi-requested-investigate-officer-involved-shooting-chatham-county added October 25, 2016 08:57
- http://mashable.com/2014/09/18/georgia-shooting/#YT71BGcfakq3 added October 25, 2016 08:56
- http://savannahnow.com/news-latest-news/2015-02-26/charles-smith-family-wants-3-million-wrongful-death added October 25, 2016 08:51
- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/renaldo-pearson/charles-smith-hestilldese_b_5980490.html added October 25, 2016 08:49
- http://www.wtoc.com/story/26639167/protesters-march-to-courthouse-prepare-for-public-viewing added March 28, 2016 06:11
- http://www.wtoc.com/story/28086677/da-meg-heap-takes-unprecedented-step-in-charles-smith-case added March 28, 2016 06:00
- http://www.ajc.com/news/news/breaking-news/an-autopsy-but-few-answers-in-wake-of-savannah-sho/nhQ4d/ added March 28, 2016 05:55
- http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/feb/25/georgia-officer-handcuffed-man-criminal-charges added March 28, 2016 05:53
- https://www.facebook.com/KilledByPolice/posts/902630706431734 added March 28, 2016 05:51
- http://www.wtoc.com/story/26567695/gbi-investigating-after-1-man-killed-in-officer-involved-shooting added March 28, 2016 05:51