Coroner's Office: 3-year-old girl dies after being pulled from South Carolina pool

VIOLENCE AND ITS IMPACT ON KIDS. WE'RE SPEAKING WITH LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS... ABOUT THE OBSTACLES THEY FACE IN SAVANNAH. DEMANDS FOR ANSWERS CONTINUE AFTER THE DROWNING DEATH OF CHILD. WHEN WE'LL HEAR FROM THE CHILD'S FAMILY.. TODAY. PLUS .. KEEPING YOUR PROPERTY TAXES DOWN. WHY THE HOSTESS CITY WANTS TO KEEP THE LOWEST MILEAGE RATE ITS HAD IN FORTY YEARS. THOMPSON HOTEL THANKS FOR STARTING YOUR DAY WITH WJCL 22 NEWS. GOOD MORNING - - I'M EMMA HAMILTON. METEOROLOGIST JONATHAN MYERS IS JOINING US NOW .... NOW, HERE'S YOUR STORM TRACKER RADAR... TODAY A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS, MAINLY AFTER 4PM. PARTLY SUNNY, WITH A HIGH NEAR 95. HEAT INDEX VALUES AS HIGH AS 106. WEST WIND 8 TO 10 MPH. WEDNESDAY NIGHT A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS, MAINLY BEFORE 7PM. MOSTLY CLOUDY, THEN GRADUALLY BECOMING MOSTLY CLEAR, WITH A LOW AROUND 76. SOUTHWEST WIND 3 TO 7 MPH. THURSDAY MOSTLY SUNNY, WITH 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS LATER TODAY WE'LL HEAR FROM BRUNSWICK'S DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND THE FAMILY OF THE EIGHT-YEAR-OLD BOY WHO DROWNED IN WAYNE COUNTY BACK IN MAY. AUTHORITIES FOUND NOAH BUSH'S BODY IN A BURROW PIT IN JESUP. PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY HAVE PROTESTED.. DEMANDING ANSWERS IN THE INVESTIGATION. WJCL 22 NEWS' SAVANNAH YOUNGER IS JOINING US LIVE IN THE NEWSROOM. AND SAVANNAH.. WE'LL BE HEARING FROM OFFICIALS TODAY, BUT WHAT DO WE KNOW SO FAR ABOUT THIS CASE? YEAH EMMA... NOAH BUSH WENT MISSING ON THE NIGHT OF MAY 15TH.. AND POLICE LATER FOUND HIS BODY THE NEXT MORNING. AUTHORITIES SAID THEY BELIEVED THERE WAS NO FOUL PLAY..SAYING THAT BUSH WANDERED INTO A DEEP PART OF THE WATER. BUT THE FAMILY BELIEVES OTHERWISE. HERE'S WHAT BUSH'S FAMILY HAD TO SAY.. THE LAST TIME WE SPOKE TO THEM. " IT NEVER MADE SENSE TO ME BECAUSE NOAH NEVER LIKED WATER ... HE DIDN'T DESERVE FOR HIS LIFE TO BE CUT SHORT. HE HAD DREAMS. HE HAD GOALS. HE HAD AMBITIONS. AND HE DESERVES TO STILL BE HERE." THE FAMILY OF NOAH BUSH LAUNCHED A PRIVATE INVESTIGATION LAST MONTH... HIRING THE DAVIS AND BOZEMAN LAW- FIRM.. IN HOPES OF FINDING THE TRUTH FASTER. THEIR GROUP BROKE THE TRUTH IN THE CASE OF AHMAUD ARBERY. IN A STATEMENT RELEASED YESTERDAY FROM ON OF THEIR ATTORNEY'S.. MAWULI MEL DAVIS..IT SAYS IN PART.. ""WE REMAIN OPTIMISTIC BUT VIGILANT IN OUR FIGHT FOR JUSTICE. THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUNG NOAH'S DEATH MUST BE ACCOUNTABLE." ONCE WE HEAR FROM THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND FAMILY.. WE WILL BRING YOU THE LATEST ONLINE AND ON AIR.. AT WJCL-DOT-COM. BACK TO YOU EMMA THANKS SAVANNAH IN BEAUFORT ... ONE PERSON IS FACING MULTIPLE CHARGES ... INCLUDING ATTEMPTED MURDER ... IN CONNECTION TO A FOURTH OF JULY SHOOTING. IT HAPPENED AT THE ASHLEY POINT APARTMENTS ... ON CAROLINA WREN DRIVE. THE VICTIM IS NOW IN STABLE CONDITION. BEAUFORT POLICE IDENTIFIED 24-YEAR-OLD JOVONN PRYOR ... AS THE SUSPECT. A SECOND MAN ...AND A FEMALE JUVENILE ... ARE ALSO CHARGED WITH INTERFERING AND RESISTING ARREST. AND RIGHT NOW... A 19-YEAR- OLD ... IS FACING MURDER CHARGES ... AFTER THE SHOOTING DEATH OF A 16-YEAR-OLD. IT HAPPENED SUNDAY... ON FLORANCE ... AND 49TH STREETS. SAVANNAH POLICE ARRESTED 19-YEAR-OLD DAWONTAY WILLIAMS ...WHO IS ALSO FACING TWO COUNTS OF AGGRAVATED ASSAULT. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN SAVANNAH WANT THEIR VOICES HEARD.. ABOUT CONCERNS IN THEIR COMMUNITY. AND WE'RE HERE TO LISTEN. YESTERDAY ... WJCL 22 NEWS GREG COY AND RADIO HOST MIA MANCE MODERATED THE "YOUTH FOR A SAFER SAVANNAH" CONVERSATION.. HOSTED BY THE MEDIATION CENTER OF THE COASTAL EMPIRE. WJCL 22 NEWS' TIA MAGGIO SPOKE INDIVIDUALLY WITH SOME OF THE STUDENTS ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE EXPERIENCING. TIA LL INTRO: TODAY - I SAT DOWN WITH SOME OF THOSE STUDENTS WHO REVEALED THE OBSTACLES AND WORRIES THEY FACE IN TODAY'S WORLD. SOME OF THOSE OBSTACLES BEING VIOLENCE, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND AFFORDABILITY. PACK: "I JUST WORRY ABOUT BEING ABLE TO MAKE IT ON MY OWN." SAVANNAH TEENS OPENED UP TUESDAY ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT MATTER MOST TO THEM AT COMMUNITY CONVERSATION WITH WJCL AND THE MEDIATION CENTER OF THE COASTAL EMPIRE. ONE OF THOSE ISSUES THEY SAY IS VIOLENCE. SAVANNAH'S CHIEF OF POLICE TOLD WJCL 22 HOMICIDES ARE UP THIS YEAR. "THERE ARE A LOT OF SAVANNAH THAT I DON'T TEND TO GO TO THAT I'VE HEARD ABOUT THAT I PERSONALLY HAVEN'T BEEN TO, BUT I'VE HEARD ENOUGH STORIES ABOUT THAT. I'M LIKE, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A PLACE I'D RECOMMEND." "IT'S JUST SCARY TO WALK ALONE AT NIGHT OR BE OUT ALONE AT NIGHT." THE STUDENTS SAY SOCIAL MEDIA ESCALATES VIOLENCE SEEN IN SCHOOLS. INSTEAD OF STEPPING IN DURING CONFLICT... STUDENTS WILL RECORD THE FLIGHT INSTEAD. "IT IS SO DISTURBING THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE FIND PLEASURE BECAUSE IT'S NOT THE. AND THIS IS HOW SITUATIONS THE BIGGER AND BIGGER." THE STUDENTS ALSO SAY SOCIAL MEDIA CONTINUES TO DISRUPT SELF- IMAGE. "IT PRESSES ON OUR INSECURITIES MORE LIKE WOMEN ALREADY HAVE A LOT TO DEAL WITH WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR BODY ISSUES." ANOTHER BIG TOPIC IS AFFORDABILITY "JUST TRYING TO STABLY SURVIVE. THAT'S MUCH HARDER. GROCERIES, EVERYTHING'S HIKED UP IN PRICES." THE CENSUS REPORTER SHOWS THE AVERAGE VALUE OF A HOUSE IN SAVANNAH IN 2022 WAS 249 THOUSAND DOLLARS. IN 2000....IT WAS 78 THOUSAND. "THE COST OF LIVING IS JUST SO HIGH THERE, ESPECIALLY IN COMPARISON TO LIKE THE AVERAGE SALARY." THAT'S WHY THE MEDIATION CENTER - WHO HELPED ORGANIZE THE COMMUNITY CONVERSATION - IS PUSHING FOR PEACE. "IF WE'RE JUST ALL A LITTLE BIT MORE ACCEPTING OF EACH OTHER AND PAUSE BEFORE WE JUDGE OR HAVE AN OPINION, WOW, THAT WOULD REALLY BE MAKING A DIFFERENCE." TIA LL TAG: THE MEDIATION CENTER IS ALSO HOSTING 100 DAYS OF INTENTIONAL PEACEBUILDING THAT ENCOURAGES YOU TO SHARE WAYS YOU SPREAD PEACE IN SAVANNAH. IT LEADS UP TO THEIR PEACE IN THE PARK EVENT IN SEPTEMBER. FOR MORE INFORMATION - VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WJCL DOT COM. GREG AND MIA PLAN TO DIVE DEEPER INTO THE TOPIC OF SCHOOL VIOLENCE ... WITH THESE STUDENTS. YOU CAN FIND THAT ON AIR ... AND OUR WEBSITE ... LATER THIS WEEK. THE CITY OF SAVANNAH IS CONSIDERING MAINTAINING ITS LOWEST MILAGE RATE SINCE 19-87. WJCL 22 NEWS' KYRON NEVEAUX IS JOINING US LIVE THIS MORNING FROM CITY HALL. KY .. WE KNOW THE RATE ISN'T GOING TO CHANGE. HOW IS THE SAME RATE BEING CONSIDERED THE LOWEST IN THE CITY IN 40 YEARS? EMMA-THE REASON THIS HAS BECOME THE LOWEST IS BECAUSE OF THE GROWTH WE HAVE SEEN IN SAVANNAH, ACCORDING TO MAYOR JOHNSON. HE SHARED THE AMOUNT OF NEW PROPERTY THAT HAS COME OVER THE YEAR HAS ALLOWED THE RATE TO STAY THE SAME BUT THE COST OF YOUR TAXES TO DROP. THIS RATE OF 12.2 WOULD BE THE SAME RATE SINCE 2022. GEORGIA LAW REQUIRES THE CITY TO ADVERTISE THIS AS AN INCREASE. THE MONEY USED FROM THE TAX RATE WILL HELP FUND DRAINAGE SYSTEMS ACROSS THE CITY ALONG WITH RAISING THE STARTING WAGE FOR FIRST RESPONDERS. THE MAYOR SHARED THIS IS EXAMPLE OF FIGHTING GROWTH WITH GROWTH. <> "THE STATE SAYS THAT BECAUSE WE HAD GROWTH OF 9% WE NEED TO REDUCE OUR MILAGE BY THAT 9% AND REALIZE THAT BEING IN A TAX DECREASE AND IF WE GO THERE, IT IS TO THE CIVIC INCREASE, ALTHOUGH WE ARE MAINTAINING THE SAME RATE. " THE CITY OF SAVANNAH HAS TO LEGALLY HOLD THREE PUBLIC HEARINGS BEFORE ADAPTING THIS PROCESS. THE FIRST TWO WILL BE ON THURSDAY.. ONE AT 10AM AND THE OTHER AT 6PM..CITY LEADERS UNDERSTAND THIS CAN BE CONFUSING AND THEY ASK THEY YOU SHOW UP TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS OR SHARE ANY CONCERNS. EMMA .. BACK TO YOU. KY THANKS FOR THAT REPORT. AFTER NEARLY 12 YEARS.... CHIEF FREDDY HOWELL WITH "BRYAN COUNTY FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES" ... IS RETIRING. CHIEF HOWELL HANDED IN HIS 30 DAY NOTICE YESTERDAY. HE SAYS HE'S STEPPING DOWN ... IN ORDER TO PURSUE OPPORTUNITIES IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. AT THIS TIME .. HOWELL REMAINS AS ACTING CHIEF. IT'S UNCLEAR WHEN A REPLACEMENT WILL BE NAMED. RIGHT NOW... A SOUTH CAROLINA POSTAL EMPLOYEE IS FACING CRIMINAL CHARGES FOR STEALING PEOPLE'S MAIL ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND. THYLENTHIA YOUNG FROM HARDEEVILLE WORKED AS A RURAL CARRIER ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND. A DISTRICT JUDGE THERE FOUND HER GUILTY OF EMBEZZLING CHECKS AND STEALING STOLEN GIFT CARDS WORTH THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FROM PEOPLE'S MAIL. BY LAW... YOUNG COULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN JAIL TIME... BUT INSTEAD SHE WAS GIVEN FIVE YEARS OF PROBATION AND HEFTY FINES. COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF THE ALLJOY NEIGHBORHOOD IN BLUFFTON ARE INVITED TO A MEETING HAPPENING TODAY... TO DISCUSS STORMWATER DRAINAGE. OFFICIALS WILL TALK ABOUT THE DRAINAGE STUDY AND DRAIN MAINTENANCE AND ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC. THE MEETING IS SCHEDULED TONIGHT AT SIX.. AT THE BLUFFTON RECREATION CENTER. AND HERE'S A LOOK AT YOUR TRAFFIC TRACK 22. THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS ON THE ROADS THIS MORNING. T