A father of three was shot and killed Sunday afternoon in the parking lot of a Target store on Abercorn Street after an argument over a parking space, police said. Officers arrested 30-year-old Tyler Edward Linn at the scene on suspicion of murder and aggravated assault.
Authorities and local officials said the shooting, which unfolded on one of Savannah’s busiest retail corridors, began as a dispute between two drivers trying to park. The victim, identified by his employer as Matthew Traywick, was taken to a hospital and later pronounced dead. The case has prompted an outpouring of grief from Traywick’s family, coworkers and city leaders, while investigators work to reconstruct the moments that led to gunfire. The district attorney’s office is reviewing evidence as the community awaits initial court proceedings expected this week.
Police were called shortly after 4 p.m. Sunday to the 14000 block of Abercorn Street, where the Target sits alongside big-box stores and restaurants. When officers arrived, they found Traywick suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in the front portion of the lot near the main entrance, according to preliminary reports. Medics transported him to Memorial Health University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. Savannah Mayor Van Johnson condemned the killing in a statement, calling it “needless” and saying no disagreement in a parking lot should end with a loss of life, as investigators placed evidence markers near shell casings and taped off a wide swath of the pavement.
Police said Linn remained on scene and was taken into custody without incident. He was booked into the Chatham County jail on counts of murder and aggravated assault. Jail records list him as 30 years old. Army officials confirmed he previously served on active duty and was assigned to Hunter Army Airfield during part of his service. Investigators did not immediately say how many shots were fired, which driver arrived first, who called 911, or whether either party had companions. Detectives canvassed for surveillance video from store cameras and nearby businesses, and they interviewed shoppers who witnessed the confrontation. The Chatham County Medical Examiner will determine the exact cause and manner of death.
Traywick worked for Vaden Automotive, which publicly identified him and described him as a devoted colleague and father. Friends said he leaves behind a wife and three young children. On Monday, mourners left flowers near a row of spaces as the lot reopened to regular traffic. Drivers described a hectic weekend rush that can tighten competition for spaces near the entrance in late afternoons. A Target spokesperson did not immediately provide comment on the shooting. Police emphasized that the investigation is active and asked anyone with video from the parking lot or the surrounding access roads to contact detectives.
Investigators said the dispute started as a conflict over a parking space moments before shots were fired. Officers responded around 4:10 p.m., part of the late-day shopping window when clerks said traffic typically peaks. Witnesses told reporters they saw officers move shoppers back as detectives traced chalk outlines around items on the asphalt and collected casings. One shopper described seeing two vehicles stopped near each other just before the gunfire. Police have not released a detailed timeline of the exchange, including who stepped out of a vehicle first or whether there was any physical struggle before the shooting, and they declined to discuss any statements taken from the suspect.
The case unfolds along a stretch of Abercorn Street that draws heavy weekend crowds and has been the site of previous nonfatal disputes and fender-benders, according to residents and store workers. City officials said officers patrol the corridor regularly, and license-plate readers on nearby roads can help investigators determine movements before and after an incident. Memorial Health University Medical Center, a level I trauma center for the region, handled the emergency response. The death renewed local attention on parking-lot confrontations and how quickly arguments can escalate in crowded commercial areas, residents said, even as police stressed that the full investigative record has not been released.
Prosecutors with the Chatham County District Attorney’s Office are reviewing the police file ahead of Linn’s first appearance in Recorder’s Court, which is expected this week. Formal charges will be presented at that hearing, and the judge could address bond and set a preliminary hearing date. A grand jury would later consider the case for indictment. Police said they plan to release additional information after the initial court appearance and after forensics are completed, including ballistics results and any findings from the medical examiner’s office. Funeral arrangements for Traywick had not been announced as of Tuesday.
On Monday and Tuesday, shoppers returned to the plaza as officers conducted extra patrols. A store employee said managers reminded staff to report anything unusual outside. “It’s shocking,” said a nearby worker who watched police comb the lot. “You come here all the time. It’s a parking spot.” A neighbor who left a bouquet near the entrance said she did not know the family but wanted to show support. Vaden Automotive posted condolences and described Traywick as a valued member of its team. Friends said a fundraiser was launched to help his wife and children in the immediate aftermath.
As of Tuesday evening, police said the investigation remains active and that more details are expected after the suspect’s initial court appearance later this week. Officials said updates will follow as forensic reports and witness interviews are completed.
Author note: Last updated January 7, 2026.