A man was shot and killed Sunday afternoon during an argument over a parking space outside the Target on Abercorn Street, police said. The victim, identified by his employer as 35-year-old Matthew Traywick, died at a hospital. Officers arrested 30-year-old Tyler Linn at the scene on suspicion of murder and aggravated assault.
The case has jolted one of Savannah’s busiest shopping corridors and added to a national conversation about everyday disputes turning deadly. Investigators said the confrontation unfolded shortly after 4 p.m. in the store’s front lot. Police have not released a detailed account of what led to the gunfire, but city leaders called the killing senseless and avoidable. The Chatham County District Attorney’s Office is reviewing evidence gathered by Savannah police as the community mourns a father of three whose death leaves a young family without a husband and dad.
Officers were called around 4:10 p.m. Sunday to the 14000 block of Abercorn Street. When they arrived, they found Traywick suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in the parking lot near the store’s main entrance, according to initial reports. Medics transported him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Witnesses told reporters the dispute began over a parking space moments before the shooting. Savannah Mayor Van Johnson condemned the violence in a statement, saying no disagreement in a parking lot should end in loss of life. Police said Linn remained on scene and was taken into custody without incident.
Authorities said Linn faces counts of murder and aggravated assault and is being held pending court proceedings. Army officials confirmed he served on active duty from 2015 to 2023 and was assigned to Hunter Army Airfield during part of that time. Police have not said how many shots were fired, who called 911, or whether either party had companions with them. Investigators canvassed for surveillance video from store cameras and nearby businesses and interviewed shoppers who saw the confrontation. The Chatham County Medical Examiner will determine the exact cause and manner of Traywick’s death.
Traywick worked for Vaden Automotive, which identified him publicly and described him as a devoted colleague and father. Friends said he leaves behind a wife and three young children. By Monday, flowers and a small note lay near a row of stalls as crews power-washed the asphalt. The Target sits along a busy retail stretch where weekend traffic is heavy; several drivers said competition for spaces can be tight near the main entrance on peak afternoons. Store managers referred questions to corporate officials, who did not immediately comment.
In the hours after the shooting, Savannah police taped off a wide section of the lot and placed evidence markers near shell casings. Detectives are reviewing store footage and license-plate reader hits from surrounding roads. Prosecutors will decide formal charges at Linn’s first appearance in Chatham County Recorder’s Court, expected this week, and a grand jury could hear the case in the coming weeks. Officials did not announce a specific time for an autopsy or an investigative briefing, but said updates will follow as forensics are completed and interviews are transcribed.
Shoppers returned Monday as the scene quieted. A couple loading groceries said they watched patrols loop the lot more often. “It’s shocking,” a nearby worker said. “You come here all the time. It’s a parking spot.” A neighbor who stopped to leave a bouquet said she didn’t know the family but felt compelled to visit. “Three kids,” she said softly. “I can’t stop thinking about them.”
As of Tuesday evening, police said the investigation remains active and additional details will be released after the suspect’s initial court appearance later this week. Funeral plans for Traywick had not been announced.
Author note: Last updated January 6, 2026.