SAVANNAH, Ga. — Five years have passed since a tragic mass shooting claimed the lives of two young fathers in Savannah, and their families gathered on Thursday, united in their call for justice.
The incident unfolded on June 11, 2021, when gunshots rang out near the Fred Wessels Home apartments on Avery Street. Six individuals were wounded, and the lives of two men were tragically cut short.
Among those lost was 19-year-old Arthur Milton, who died at the scene. Terryl Coleman, aged 26, succumbed to his injuries in the hospital a few days later.
In a poignant gathering on Thursday night, the families of Milton and Coleman came together to remember and pay tribute to their beloved family members.
“It’s a constant pain, and I’m left without answers, still in the dark about what truly happened,” expressed Ayannah Hills, the mother of Arthur Milton.
People who spoke to said the deaths have left a lasting impact on their family’s lives.
“They miss their big brother,” Terryl Coleman’s mother Melissa Maner said. “That’s all they had. They look up to their big brother. He looked up to his daddy, him and his dad were very close, he’s a junior. They hurt.”
Milton died days later after the incident and Maner said she relives those moments.
“When I got a phone call and I had to make a decision to pull the plug on my child,” Maner said. “No, I don’t wish that on no one. That’s a hard decision, to pull the plug on my child. I have to tell his kids; my heart is crushed every day.”
Five years later, no one has been arrested or charged in connection to the shooting. The families said the lack of answers has left them frustrated and heartbroken.
They said they will continue to speak out and seek justice until someone comes forward.
“Oh, what happened that day is already the worst day of my life, I miss him, I love him so much,” Hills said.
Maner said, “He was 26, he didn’t deserve this. My son did not deserve this. I’ll always be an advocate for him.”
If you have any information that could help, you are asked to contact the Savannah Police Department.