Executive Summary
- Savannah Police are responding to reports of an armed man near MLK and Bay Street.
- SCAD officials issued an alert advising the public to avoid the downtown area.
- Separately, Byron Reedy was arrested for the April 2025 hit-and-run death of cyclist Larry Haywood.
- Reedy faces charges including homicide by vehicle, tampering with evidence, and driving with a suspended license.
Law enforcement officials in Savannah, Georgia, are responding to reports of an armed individual near the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Bay Street, prompting alerts for the public to avoid the downtown vicinity. According to the Savannah Police Department (SPD), officers have established a presence in the area as they assess the situation, which emerged on Thursday.
The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) issued a notification to residents regarding the incident. The message stated that reports indicated an "armed man" was in the area, which is situated near the popular River Street district. While police have secured the perimeter, authorities have not confirmed any injuries or specific details regarding a suspect resolution at this time.
In a separate development regarding public safety, the Savannah Police Department announced the arrest of 38-year-old Byron Reedy in connection with a fatal hit-and-run incident from earlier this year. Authorities confirmed that Reedy was taken into custody on Wednesday and faces multiple felony charges stemming from the April 9, 2025, crash that resulted in the death of cyclist Larry Haywood.
According to investigators from the SPD’s Traffic Investigation Unit, the collision occurred at the intersection of Skidaway Road and East 49th Street. Haywood was struck by a vehicle that fled the scene and was subsequently transported to Memorial Health University Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries. The police report indicates that Reedy has been charged with homicide by vehicle, hit-and-run resulting in death, serious injury by motor vehicle, and tampering with evidence.
This arrest occurs amidst heightened scrutiny of traffic safety in Chatham County. Prosecutors recently indicted another individual on vehicular homicide charges related to the death of cyclist Thomas Johnson, signaling a focused effort by local law enforcement to address vehicular negligence.
Public Safety and Judicial Proceedings
The simultaneous management of an active tactical situation downtown and the closure of a significant homicide investigation underscores the operational breadth required of the Savannah Police Department. While the immediate focus remains on securing the Bay Street corridor to ensure community safety, the arrest in the Haywood case reflects a continued prioritization of traffic-related fatalities within the judicial system. As the legal process begins for Byron Reedy, it is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
