Jonah Bryant was 15 years old when he was murdered while protecting his mother during a home invasion at their home in Savannah, Georgia. More than 20 years have passed, and the person responsible for his death has yet to be brought to justice.
According to the Savannah Police Department, on Jan. 14, 2000, Jonah stayed at his home in the 1300 block of East 37th Street, watching television while his mother and younger sister went to the grocery store.
At around 8:48 p.m., his mother and sister returned. As they were presumably in the midst of bringing the groceries inside the house, the mother was approached by a dark-skinned black male who was clad in a checkerboard-patterned jacket.
With his face covered, he pointed a gun at her head and attempted to rob her.
She told WTOC 11 in 2010 that she gave the man her purse, and “he got it and put it under his arm and kept the gun at my head.”
Jonah heard the attack and immediately sprung into action to protect his mother and sister.
It was reported that he leaped over his mother, who was on the ground, while saying to the burglar, “Leave my mama alone.”
Police officials stated that it was then that the suspect “turned the gun on him” and opened fire, striking Jonah in the heart.
The suspect subsequently fled the scene.
Jonah succumbed to his injuries before paramedics arrived.
At the time of his death, Jonah was a freshman at Savannah High School, where he was a component of the JROTC program. He had an interest in joining the Army and later working in law enforcement.
In 2014, a reward of up to $13,500 was offered for information that would lead to an arrest, but it is unclear if that reward is still available.
Jonah’s mother has asked for “someone to just please come forward.” She said, “It’s hard enough dealing with the loss of my child, but not knowing who did it… it’s something else you have to deal with.”
It was stated by that Savannah-Chatham Metro Police homicide sergeant that “if anybody knew anything about this case they would do just a little like Jonah did and just come forward.”
Anyone with information regarding the unsolved murder of Jonah Bryant is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers at (912) 234-2020.