Public SAfety summary
Posted: October 28, 2009 - 12:16am

By Savannah Morning News, Savannah Morning News
A 22-year-old man was jailed early Tuesday morning on charges he shot another man after the two strangers exchanged a series of hostile text messages.

Scott Allen Elder faces an aggravated assault charge in the 2:30 a.m. shooting of Brian Matison, 24, at a CVS parking lot on Edgewater Street, near Montgomery Crossroad, said Veda Lamar Nichols, Savannah-Chatham police spokeswoman.

Matison was in serious condition at Memorial University Medical Center by midday Tuesday, Nichols said.

Elder and Matison had argued through phone calls and text messages after a misdialed number, Nichols said.

The pair arranged to meet at the CVS lot, she said.

"They allowed a text message conversation to escalate to physical violence," Nichols said. "It was just one of those senseless things."

Elder was taken to the Chatham County jail on the felony assault charge. Elder's vehicle, of unknown make or model, was damaged during the incident, she added.

Some family members and other people were in the area at the time of the shooting and were interviewed by officers after the shooting, Nichols said.

Southside apartment fire displaces 10

Ten people temporarily were displaced Tuesday by a fire at Live Oak Plantation apartments, 8505 Waters Ave., according to Savannah Fire & Emergency Services.

Firefighters responded to the complex about 12:30 p.m., finding smoke from unit 137, said Mark Keller, spokesman for Savannah Fire.

Fire crews contained the blaze to a closet, but damage from smoke and water was reported throughout the unit.

"Firefighters say it appears a child took a lit candle into the bedroom closet," Keller said in a news release, adding no injuries resulted from the blaze.

Two adults and eight children were displaced.