SAVANNAH, Ga. () – Several suspects in a string of high-profile violent incidents in and around Savannah for the past two weeks were out on bond during the crimes.

Soloman Chisholm, 26, was arrested in connection to the Thursday evening armed confrontation at the Waters Ave. Enmarket.

Chisolm was released a $4k bond Aug. 2, 2024 despite objection from the state.

He was behind bars for one day on possession of weapon and marijuana charges in addition to theft.

“It’s frustrating to me as a DA, and it’s frustrating to me as a citizen,” said Chatham County District Attorney (DA) Shalena Cook Jones.

Chisolm’s case is the latest in what some elected officials, including Savannah Mayor Van Johnson, are calling a troubling trend where suspects, and even a victim, in violent crimes are out on bond.

“I have the same concerns that the mayor has,” said DA Jones, “We do have to answer why we have the recurring instances of crime, and I am sensitive to that not only as a DA but as a citizen. I want to know too.”

DA Jones explained the complex process of bond, and told the recent violence is not the fault of one person or party.

“People get the impression that the DA let them off, or the sheriff let them off, or something else happened, and what people need to understand is that the issue of bond is set by Georgia law,” said DA Jones, “And though there are multiple parties involved, it is the judge’s decision to ultimately decide who to let free out on bond and who should stay in jail.”

Also recently, Kenneth Gordon, 41, arrested in connection to the deadly Liberty Pkwy. crash, was out on bond in a Port Wentworth Ct.

On March 8th, Nathanial Lewis, 21, was arrested for the deadly shooting of Benny Wright, 41, on the 1800 block of MLK. Jr. Blvd.

Both Lewis and Wright were out on bond, and both of their releases were objected to by the state.

DA Jones provided context to the recent string of violence as it relates to bond.

“On a large scale, 97% of the people who get let out on bond don’t commit an offense. They actually do come back for court, and they follow through the process until their case is resolved,” said DA Jones, “It’s the 5 to 10% of people who violate their bond and violate the bond conditions by committing additional offenses.”