Savannah Police: Murder of UK national Benjamin Tucker 'not a random shooting'

This is a developing story.

After leaving work during the early morning hours of April 24, Henry McDonough stopped by the Time Saver convenience store, 502 W. Bay St., to buy a pack of cigarettes. While standing at the checkout counter, he felt a sharp pain in his left leg.

It was a bullet.

McDonough applied pressure as he waited for an ambulance to arrive.

Before the bullet entered his left leg, he later learned, it had gone through the stomach of Benjamin Tucker, 27. Tucker, a British national on vacation in Savannah to visit family, died as a result of his injuries.

Previous report: One person killed in two unrelated shootings in downtown Savannah on Sunday

“When it all happened so fast that I don't even really remember, like, much of what happened other than there was a few guys dragging a dude out of a store,” said McDonough. “And I thought it was gonna be a fight. And then the next thing I know, I was in the store with my back turned when it happened. And then I heard the shot, and then I felt it hit me in the leg.”

Georgiemae Lawrence arrested

Savannah police arrested 28-year-old Georgia Mae Lawrence for murder and booked her into the Chatham County Detention Center on the morning of the shooting.

When Savannah Morning News asked the Savannah Police Department if there was any more information regarding the circumstances surrounding the shooting, such as if Tucker was targeted, SPD spokesperson Bianca Johnson said the investigation remained active and that "the current indication is that this is not a random shooting."

No further details were available.

McDonough said he doesn’t know Tucker or anybody else involved in the incident. He said one of Tucker’s friends reached out to him and asked if he had any more information.

“I was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” said McDonough, who added that he hasn’t heard from SPD detectives since they spoke with him in the hospital. “I think it seemed like they had pretty much like, I guess, they already figured it out by then.”

McDonough added, “Honestly, it’s kind of terrifying to think about man. What are these people going to do? Somebody who's willing to just shoot somebody in a really crowded scenario?”

For now, McDonough is trying to recover and return to work as soon as possible.

“I guess in a weird way, I'm looking for my own sense of closure on this,” said McDonough.

Crime Tip Lines

SPD detectives are asking anyone who has information or was at the store around 1 a.m. when the incident occurred to contact police with tips. Tipsters can call the SPD Tip Line at 912-525-3124 or CrimeStoppers at 912-234-2020.

Drew Favakeh is the public safety and public health reporter for Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at AFavakeh@savannahnow.com.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Ben Tucker death 'not a random shooting': Savannah GA Police