‘She didn’t deserve this’: Mother of teen shooting victim demands justice

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) – Emotions ran high Wednesday night at a candlelight vigil for Maria Pollock, the 17-year-old who police say was shot and killed by her father on July 20.

Family and friends gathered at what once was a crime scene, their home on Adel Street. They weren’t just saying goodbye. They made a call for justice, as the Savannah Police Department (SPD) are still investigating her death.

According to SPD, Maurice Pollock is recovering from his own self-inflicted gunshot wounds. He is facing murder charges.

Maria’s mother, Tonya Pollock, describes her daughter as beautiful, kind, and happy. This mother says she doesn’t know what could have led him to do something this heinous.

Surrounded by family, she recounted the moment she found her daughter dead in her room.

“My daughter’s stomach was split open, and her guts were hanging out. I grabbed her and pulled her. Her mouth was open, and it’s just like she wasn’t… She wasn’t here anymore,” Tonya said. “I see that man who’s supposed to be my husband… supposed to love my kids and us… standing in the corner with its hands over his head… And I’m looking like, what is going on?”

All of this was unfolding as one of her sons were screaming.

Tonya says she tried to call 911, but they couldn’t understand her. She then went to the neighbor’s house and that’s when she heard the gunshot that almost took Maurice’s life too.

“I ran back over to the house, and that man was on the floor in her room. I just grabbed my daughter, and I held her until the police got there,” she said.

Now, her family is looking for answers with one of the family members saying they want Maurice to “suffer.” Despite him being her husband of 20 years, Tonya wants justice to be served.

“It’s kind of hard to say that. But at the same time, it’s what needs to be done for my daughter, because she didn’t deserve it,” Tonya said.

The family has a GoFundMe set up to help with funeral bills. The family tells News 3, the funeral will be held on August 3rd.

This is just one of 20 homicides in Savannah this year. Of those, 6 are pending prosecution, and 14 are pending investigation. This time last year, there were only seven, according to SPD records.