The 83-year-old homeowner said neighbors later told her the property had seen violence before.
SAVANNAH, Ga. — An 83-year-old Savannah woman said her home was riddled with more than 80 gunshots during a burst of gunfire that lasted about 10 minutes, a frightening attack that left windows and walls damaged and police investigating what sparked the shooting.
The case has drawn attention not only because of the volume of gunfire but also because the homeowner said she moved into the house recently believing she was starting over. The woman, Mary Ann Pickard, said she did not know of any recent trouble tied to the property when she bought it. After the shooting, she said, neighbors told her the home had been connected to gun violence before, raising questions about whether the attack was aimed at the house, the block, or someone else entirely.
Pickard said the shooting happened on Wed., Feb. 11, when she heard repeated gunshots coming from the front of her house. She described the sound as a fast, relentless series of shots that did not stop quickly. “Bang, bang,” she said she heard, and then more gunfire as the minutes dragged on. She said the barrage continued for about 10 minutes, long enough that she felt trapped inside and unsure if the shooters would come closer or if bullets would reach the room where she was sheltering.
When it quieted down, Pickard said she realized the damage was widespread. She said bullets had struck windows and walls and left her stunned at how many rounds were fired. She said she later learned the number of shots was more than 80. Police have not publicly detailed what they recovered at the scene, such as how many shell casings were found or whether the rounds came from one gun or multiple weapons.
Authorities have also not said whether anyone was hurt, whether nearby homes were struck, or whether the gunfire was tied to a dispute in the area. No arrests were announced, and police have not released the name of any suspect or identified a vehicle linked to the shooting. Without those details, key questions remain unanswered, including whether the home was targeted or whether it was hit during a larger burst of gunfire in the neighborhood.
Pickard said she thought she had done what she could to understand the home’s condition before moving in. She said she noticed holes above the kitchen sink and asked a real estate agent about them at the time. She said she did not view the marks as a sign of danger and believed they had another explanation. After the shooting, she said, neighbors told her the house had been involved in gun violence before she arrived, a detail that made her feel she had moved into a problem she did not create and did not see coming.
The idea that a property might have a history can shape how investigators approach a case, including whether they look for people connected to earlier incidents or conflicts. Police have not confirmed any past violence tied to the home and have not said whether they are examining earlier reports at the address. They also have not described what evidence, if any, exists beyond physical damage, such as surveillance video from nearby cameras or statements from witnesses who may have seen shooters, cars, or the direction the gunfire came from.
Citywide, Savannah police have reported declines in several major crime categories in recent years, even as high-profile shootings continue to worry residents. The Savannah Police Department’s 2024 annual crime statistics report lists 26 homicides in 2024, compared with 28 in 2023 and 32 in 2022. The same report lists total violent crime at 984 incidents in 2024, down from 1,228 in 2023, a drop the department attributed to shifts across multiple categories.
Savannah officials have also emphasized community-based prevention programs and targeted outreach. The city’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement has backed efforts aimed at reducing gun violence among young people and young adults, while state-level debates have played out over what local governments can regulate related to firearms. Those broader arguments have often focused on how quickly stolen guns move into street crimes and how cities can respond within Georgia law.
Pickard said the policy conversations feel distant compared with the memory of gunfire slamming into her home. She said the attack changed how she thinks about daily life inside a place she expected to be safe. She said she wants answers about who fired the shots and why so many rounds were directed toward a house that, at the time, held an elderly resident trying to live quietly.
Police have not announced a public briefing date or released a detailed incident report. As of Monday, the investigation remained open, with no publicly identified suspect and no publicly stated motive, and officials had not said when they expect to share additional information.
Author note: Last updated February 16, 2026.