Police are investigating the death of a 26-year-old Savannah man found in a lane one morning last week.
Audie Walker Murphy of the 2100 block of Tennessee Avenue was found dead behind the New Covenant Holiness Church in the 900 block of East Duffy Lane about 8:20 a.m.
Detectives are asking anyone who has information on the death to please come forward by contacting Metro Homicide at (912) 525-3124 or Crimestoppers at (912) 234-2020 or text CRIMES (274637).
Tipsters to Crimestoppers remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.
• A Savannah man is in critical condition after he was found shot in a car one morning late last week.
Police are investigating the 1:01 a.m. shooting at West 38th and Barnard streets.
He was found with a gunshot wound in a car that rolled west on West 38th Street onto the curb and steps to at church on the west side of Barnard Street.
• Detectives are investigating the shooting of a 23-year-old Savannah man outside his residence one afternoon last week.
Nicholas "Dino" Clifton of a Hughes Avenue address near Laroche and Derenne avenues was transported to Memorial University Medical Center about 2:45 p.m. He underwent surgery and is recovering.
• The Chatham County Sheriff's Dept. "Operation New Hope" received six new dogs, four of which are special needs dogs.
Three are from "the second largest dog fighting ring in United States History," a spokesman says. "They are coming from a secret location somewhere in the southern United States."
The fourth dog is deaf.
"Operation New Hope does not accept aggressive dogs," says the spokesman. "The dogs coming from the fighting ring were used as bait dogs or breeders, not fighters."
• Police have issued a warning to operators of a growing number of motor scooters to lock them when not in use.
Thirty-six of the small, motorized two-wheelers have been reported stolen in the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department jurisdiction, 30 of them since June 1. Only seven had been secured with a locking device.
"These scooters are growing in popularity, but they are relatively easy for thieves to pick up and steal," said Acting Chief Julie Tolbert. "Many of the victims of these thefts are those who can least afford to lose them."
Police suggest using a chain or cable, just like with a bike, to secure the scooters to a fixed object to help thwart the thefts.
• The Savannah Impact Program's (SIP) Workforce Investment Act Program (WIA) this past Tuesday hosted its Third Annual Slam Dunk Hunger Basketball Game and Food Drive, in which WIA youth program participants take on Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police officers and SIP staff.
The game was played at the Frank Callen Boys and Girls Club, at 510 E. Charlton Street. Guests were asked to donate canned goods. All donations support SIP's 'Stock the Pantry Month' outreach program, done every October to benefit the Social Apostolate of Savannah's food and meal assistance initiatives.