Statesboro police make arrests in connection with a shooting

Statesboro police have made an arrest in connection with a shooting Monday afternoon.

According to the Statesboro Police Department, officers were called to the Octane Food Mart on Northside Drive East shortly before 4 p.m. for a report of a man who had entered the store and was suffering from a gunshot wound.

EMS arrived and took the man to East Georgia Regional Medical Center. He was later transported to Memorial Health in Savannah.

SPD said the victim was able to communicate with investigators before being transported. They said investigators learned the shooting did not occur inside the store nor did its staff participate. Instead, they learned it happened in a wooded area outside the store.

After reviewing surveillance video from the store, SPD said investigators identified a person and vehicle of interest. Using the flock system, officers were able to find the vehicle about two hours later, stop it and arrest the three people in the car.

SPD said subsequent interviews and a search of the vehicle led to investigators charging James Deon Scott Jr., of Statesboro, with aggravated assault. They took him to the Bulloch County Jail.

Anyone with further information about this incident is asked to call Senior Det. Dustin Cross at 912-764-9911 or by submitting an anonymous tip through the SPD website at https://statesboropd.com/ using the “Submit a Tip” link.