Statesboro Bulloch breakdown team arrest man who wanted to shoot Savannah

A man from Effingham County, who was sought by the Savannah police in connection with a shootout on September 20, was captured in Statesboro on Monday.

Matthew Armstrong, 29, from Springfield, in a residence of the Greenwood Avenue on Monday, said the deputy deputy Jared Akins in a residence of the Greenwood Avenue on Monday.

Eunicia Baker said with the office of the public affairs of the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department that the detectives of the Armstrong Department for Violent Crimes were looking for a shootout in a hotel on Savannahs South Side. Armstrong is one of three suspects at the shootout, one of which was arrested earlier and a third at large.

The Savannah police are still looking for Torrence Veal (25) from Milledgeville, she said in a published press release on Tuesday.

“The investigators have associated both Armstrong and veal with the shootout of 29-year-old Paul Andrew Grause on a hotel car park in the Stephenson Avenue,” said Baker. “The shootout left cruel in a critical condition.”

Armstrong and veal are charged because of serious physical injury. The veal is also charged by a convicted criminal due to the possession of a firearm, said Baker.

Veal is described as a black man with a low haircut. It stands 5 feet of 6 inches tall and weighs about 135 pounds. According to the press release, it is assumed that it has both connections to Pooler and Ellabell.

“According to the shootouts, witnesses reported on a Blue Ford Expedition that was accelerated by the scene before leaving three men in a restaurant in Hodgson Memorial and Eisenhower Drive,” said Baker. “Metro quickly found the SUV together with Austin Tyler Todd (24), which corresponds to one of the descriptions of the suspect.”

Todd, who had hidden behind a nearby building, received treatment for a bite of a police k-9 dog. A second Savannah K-9 officer found objects associated with the case nearby. Todd is charged with serious assault and disability, she said.

Everyone is asked to call crimestops at (912) 234-2020 or text crimes (274637) with the keyword CSTOP2020. Tipper remain anonymous and can qualify for a cash reward.

A confidential guideline is also open for investigators at (912) 525-3124.

Holli Deal Saxon can be reached under (912) 489-9414.