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CHATHAM COUNTY, Ga. (WSAV) — A video circulating on social media showing a boy being forced to take his clothes off at gunpoint made its way into the Chatham County Sheriff’s hands Wednesday night.
The video shows a boy being held at gunpoint and forced to take off his clothes in the middle of the street. The person holding the gun points it at the boy’s face throughout the video and pistol-whips him at the end of the video.
Details are limited at this time, but Sheriff Richard Coleman told WSAV the video was taken near Beach High School, though not on campus, in the Liberty City area of Savannah. The incident reportedly occurred on Wednesday afternoon.
Sheriff Coleman said that the boy in the video is believed to be okay.
Officials believe the suspected gunman is a minor, Sheriff Coleman said. His mother was the one to turn him in to the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday night after seeing the video, Coleman reported.
Sheriff Coleman spoke exclusively with WSAV at the county jail and said that these kinds of behaviors will not be tolerated in Chatham County.
“It’s always a concern when crime is posted on social media,” Coleman said. “It does send an alarming message to the community. However, as law enforcement, we’re here to state our position that we will not be alarmed. We will not be frightened. We will not allow our communities to be frightened.”
He told WSAV that he can’t confirm or deny if the incident was gang-related.
Coleman and Alderman Detric Leggett shared a strong message for those who are considering engaging in dangerous acts.
View the full interview here:
Additional information about the victim and suspect was not able to be released due to their ages.
The suspect and investigation will be turned over to the Savannah Police Department.
WSAV will continue to bring you the latest information as we learn more.