SAVANNAH, Ga. () — has learned both the suspect and the victim in one of three recent deadly shootings in Savannah were facing criminal charges at the time of the crime and were out on bond per judge’s orders.

Nathanial Lewis, 21, is back behind bars for the first time since November 2024 facing charges for the death of Benny Wright, 41.

Lewis is accused of shooting Wright on the 1800 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. at 4:40 a.m., Saturday, March 8.

Jail records show Lewis has a criminal history dating back to 2023.

According to the Chatham County District Attorney’s Office, Lewis was out on bond for illegal firearms charges during Saturday’s crime per a judge’s order.

Wright, who died at the Memorial Hospital after being shot, also was out on bond, more recently released, on Jan. 28 after completing a mental health course per a judge’s order.

Jail records show he had a criminal history spanning 24 years, and was booked into Chatham County Jail Oct. 28, 2024, on charges including battery, robbery, making terroristic threats, and criminal trespassing.

A spokesperson for Chatham County District Attorney Shalena Cook Jones told the DA’S office objected to the release of both Lewis and Wright.

It is unclear if the two individuals met each other while in confinement or were confined together. Chatham County Jail officials would not release that information to .

Savannah Mayor Van Johnson commented on the circumstances during his weekly press briefing.

“We’re finding sometimes more and more that our violent offenders have done violence before,” said Mayor Johnson, “And so that is a trend that’s very troubling to us. I think that message has been made very, very clear, and I’m hoping that our criminal justice community is a lot more considerate and judicious in considering the criminal histories or the acts individuals are accused of.”

The mayor also said he understands the unique circumstances that constitute each bond grant.

“I recognize there are other guidelines they have to follow and considerations they have to be able to have, but one of those is if they are violent and tend to have violent tendencies, they may have the propensity to do that again,” he said.

DA Jones’ office sent the following statement to Monday condemning the violence:

“DA JONES and her staff have been working with SPD, CCPD, and other municipal police departments to develop interdepartmental strategies aimed at preventing violent crimes like this. On behalf of the office and staff, DA Jones expressed condolences to the victims’ families and others who have been impacted by these senseless crimes.”