Savannah Mathis was a 21-year-old nursing student from Tampa who was killed on December 1, 2021. She was driving near Julian B. Lane Park with her sister around 8 p.m. when their car was sprayed with bullets. Savannah died from the shooting; her sister was wounded but survived. Reports say the attack was a case of mistaken identity, the shooter believing Savannah was someone else.

Tampa police arrested two men in connection with the case. Vakarvery Scott was convicted of first-degree premeditated murder, shooting at or into a vehicle, and attempted first-degree murder; he was sentenced to life without parole for the murder charge and received additional sentences for the other convictions. Scott testified he believed he was the target of a drive-by shooting and acted in self-defense, but surveillance footage and witness testimony contradicted that account. Another man, Alfonso Evans, was also arrested and his case remains pending.

Savannah’s family attended sentencing and spoke about their loss; her mother, LaMaria Smith, has been active in raising awareness about gun violence. Does anyone have information about Savannah’s final movements that night or about witnesses near Julian B. Lane Park?