Friends and family remembered Marcus Chaney as a protector, a loyal friend, and a loving father and husband with a smile that could brighten a day. A former classmate at A.E. Beach High School in Savannah, Georgia, described the 30-year-old Black man as a "very brilliant individual" who was "charismatic and very funny; just an outstanding and caring individual.” He was known for standing up for others and was considered a brother to many.
On the afternoon of August 6, 2019, Marcus’s life was cut short. Around 12:15 p.m., he was fatally shot in the parking lot of the Homewood Suites on the 600 block of East River Street in Savannah. The man accused of the shooting, Ronnie Cooper, also 30, was an acquaintance of Marcus’s. After firing several shots, Cooper was seen running from the scene.
Several construction workers who were near the area quickly intervened. They managed to take down the fleeing suspect and detain him until Savannah Police officers arrived.
Police arrested Cooper and charged him with murder. At the time of the shooting, Cooper was on probation for a prior aggravated stalking charge.
The investigation continued, and in October 2019, a grand jury indicted Ronnie Cooper on five felony charges in connection with Marcus Chaney’s death. The charges included malice murder, two counts of felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Four days after the shooting, friends, family, and coworkers gathered at the parking lot to hold a vigil for Marcus. They released balloons, prayed for the community, and shared fond memories of the man they had lost. As of October 2019, the case against Ronnie Cooper was proceeding through the court system.
