FATAL Pursuit | Suspect Tries To Flee From GSP's Challenger

On 09/14/2022, at 1325 hours, I observed a white older model Ford Taurus with a male driver entering the southbound lanes of Veterans Parkway from I-516 eastbound.
The driver had a cellular phone in his right hand at face level messing with the screen with his thumb. I
activated my emergency blue lights and siren attempting to initiate a traffic stop. The vehicle exited
onto Chatham Parkway and failed to yield for my emergency equipment initiating a pursuit. The driver
immediately drove his vehicle into the southbound lanes traveling north while dodging oncoming traffic.
He approached the intersection of Chatham Parkway and GA-25 and made a right turn to travel north
on GA-25. He immediately began traveling in the center turn lane and moved into the southbound
lanes traveling north. He was driving in an extremely reckless manner by nearly striking other vehicles
head on. He would swerve back into the center turn lane prior to striking them and then return to the
southbound lanes traveling north.
As we approached Gamble Road, he became more reckless as he drove through the intersection in
the wrong lanes at a high rate of speed narrowly missing other vehicles. He traversed around the
vehicles in the intersection and continued north in the southbound lanes. His vehicle gained a significant distance from my vehicle after leaving the intersection with Gamble Road due to me using
due regard for the safety of other motorists. He approached the intersection with the Interstate 516 EB
off ramp to GA-25 in the wrong lane and failed to obey a red traffic signal. His vehicle was struck by a
white Infinity SUV attempting to turn north onto GA-25 that had a green traffic signal. The impact
caused his vehicle to hit the median guard rail and a third vehicle. I arrived on scene and observed the
suspect vehicle in the center of the southbound lanes facing northwest. The white Infinity traveled into
the northbound lanes and came to a stop against a second guardrail. The third vehicle was hit head on
and came to a stop in the southbound lanes back against the median guardrail.
I immediately exited my patrol car and deployed my issued sidearm in the direction of the violator. A
plain clothed Savannah Police officer arrived on scene and we approached the suspect vehicle. I
observed that the driver was not moving and notified dispatch to get medical personnel enroute to the
scene quickly. I moved to check the occupants of the other vehicles due to the severity of the crash. All
other occupants stated they had minor injury complaints and I began to return to the suspect vehicle.
Several other Savannah Police officers arrived on scene and stated they were attempting to render
medical aid, but the violator was not breathing and did not have a pulse. Savannah firefighters arrived
on scene at approximately 1333 hours and began applying advanced life saving procedures.
Corporal M. Nelson arrived on scene and began an advanced accident
investigation. The violator was transported to Memorial Health University Medical Center by ambulance
and pronounced deceased by Dr. Stephani Gordi at 1401 hours. The Chatham
County Coroner’s Office was notified by the hospital. The driver of the Infinity truck was transported to
get evaluated for injury complaints. All City Towing was called to remove the suspect vehicle and the
Buick SUV from the scene. The Infinity truck was removed by a tow service called by the driver. During
a pretow inventory of the suspect vehicle, a black loaded Glock 45 with 18 rounds
was found in the driver’s side compartment. A backpack containing approximately 1.98 lbs. of
suspected Marijuana, two white round unlabeled pills in a clear plastic bag, a box of clear plastic
sandwich bags, a black pouch containing $1530.00 in multiple denominations with multiple cards, and a
white Weightmax digital scale was found. Georgia and Florida driver’s licenses were found in the pouch
identifying the driver as Ja’von Raheem Richards with a DOB of 1998.
While on scene, a female attempted to approach the scene and spoke with Savannah Police
officers. She stated that the driver of the suspect vehicle might be a relative of hers. She spoke with
Corporal Dante Williams, and stated his name should be Ja’von. She also stated she would
call his mom to the scene. A female identifying herself as Mr. Richards’ mother arrived on scene and
kept inquiring about his location. She never gave any contact information and I attempted to calm her
down to make the notification. I stated that he was at Memorial Health Hospital and she ran from the
scene enroute to the hospital. TFC A. Digiacomo, made the official notification at approximately 1500 hours. The scene was cleared, and all evidence found was taken to Post 42,
documented, and submitted into the evidence section.
Upon speaking with the Chatham County Coroner's Office and GBI Medical
Examiner's Office, both stated that an autopsy would be performed on Mr. Richards to determine
manner of death.