This is a developing story.
After nearly a year, newly released police body camerafootage sheds light on the night a Savannah police officer shot a man seated in the passenger side of acar after a 50-minute traffic stop.
The Savannah Morning News obtained 108 pieces of body cam video and pictures from the night Maurice Mincey, 36, was shot and killed by Savannah Police Officer Thomas Love. Reporters and editors watched the footage to piece together what happened immediately before and after Mincey was shot.
During a traffic stop on the evening of July 17, 2021, Mincey was told three times to put his hands up before he was shot and killed by Love.The officer shot Mincey three times in the back as Mincey was slowly pulling a gun from his waistband while getting out of a car.
Last week, the Chatham County District Attorney’s Office closed the case on the fatalshooting at the intersections of East Bolton Street and Waters Avenue, calling it “justifiable” given the circ*mstances.
No charges filed:Chatham DA declines to file charges against SPD officer who shot, killed Savannah man
"The evidence shows that Mr. Mincey'spossession of a firearm, his failure to respond to verbal commands and sudden exit from the car posed an imminent risk of danger to officers and citizens in the immediate area," Chatham County DA Shalena Cook Jones said.
Details of that night have changed as the investigation has progressed, including ifMincey pointed a gun. The Georgia Bureau of Investigations initially claimed Mincey pointed a weapon but walked back that detail the next day. Police footage confirms Mincey did not point or aim a weapon at anyone.
What police body cams show
Prior to Mincey’s death, a Savannah police officer pulled over driver Eric Johnson for a minor traffic violation: rolling past a stop sign.
According to police body camera footage, Savannah police officers, including Officer Love, spoke with Johnson – who was standing outside of his car near the trunk – when Love moved back toward the vehicle and noticed Mincey pulling a gun from the back of his waistband.
“Put your hands in the air right now. In the air right now,” Love said.
“Hey, put your hands up, man,” said Officer Justin Sarver, who was speaking with Mincey from the passenger side of the car before Love gave his command.
In a matter of seconds, Mincey held up his left hand and used his right to open the door. That’s when Love fired three rounds.
Mincey let out a yell before falling to the ground. Shortly after, Love handcuffed him and then administered CPR with the help of surrounding officers.
From the body cam footage of Love and Sarver, it is not clear whether the gun – confirmed by the Chatham County DA’s office to be a Smith and Wesson 9 mm semiautomatic pistol – landed near Mincey’s body or if it remained in the car.
In the video, Johnson — whotold the SMN he did not receive a traffic citation during the 50 minutes before the fatal shooting —could be heard asking,“Man, why’d you shoot him?”
'I was so distraught'
On Monday, Mincey’s fiancée Maria Scott told SMN that she was just getting home from work when she walked up on the scene.
“It was the worst thing that ever could’ve happened,” Scott said.She’s only seen some of the body cam footage – from the angle of Officer Sarver – and couldn’t stomach watching any more. “I was so distraught.”
Scott maintained that Mincey wasn’t a threat and questioned why officers didn’t use their tasers instead. In the year since Mincey’s death, Scott hasn’t worked up the nerveto tell their 4-year-old son that his father isdead. “I can’t even get myself to do it,” she said, adding she’s still waiting to hear about counseling services.
Family has questions:Savannah man's family raises questions about investigation into deadly police shooting
At a press conference Friday, Mincey’s family and faith leaders questioned the investigation into his death and called for a state and federal investigation into Mincey’s death and other police shootings in Savannah.
“We are sick and tired of policemen using that they fear for their life when they see a gun when it comes to a Black man. This is unacceptable,” said Elder James Johnson, CEO of the Racial Justice Network based in South Carolina.Johnson, two other clergymen and Mincey's family gathered Friday on Johnson Square to detail their concerns.
There,Pastor Alan Mainor of Abundance Life Deliverance Center also raised the concern of the GBI's giving conflicting information early during the investigation. “If they lied about that, what else are they lying about?”
Raisa is a watchdog and investigative reporter for the Savannah Morning News.Contact her at rhabersham@gannett.com.
