Man charged in Ellis Square shooting denied bond

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) – One of six people charged bond was denied in the Ellis Square mass shooting.

Cazare Cooper, 19, is charged with four counts of aggravated assault and four counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime in connection with the May 18 mass shooting. 11 people injured.

Cooper’s bond hearing was held Friday by telephone with Judge Penny Freesemann presiding.

The prosecutor asked that Cooper be denied bond. They said that was Cooper at the time of the mass shooting out on bail for charges of theft by receiving stolen property, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, and possession of a controlled substance in a separate case. They say the terms of his bond in that case required him not to possess a firearm and that he was under house arrest, although he was not required to wear an ankle bracelet.

The defense argued that Cooper has no criminal convictions and that he is not a flight risk. They added that the state should instead submit a motion to revoke Cooper’s bond in the other case, but in the five months since the Ellis Square shooting they had not done so.

Judge Freesemann ultimately denied Cooper’s bond.

His next court date is a counsel-only status hearing on January 13, 2025.