By the Maven, Blue Lives Matter
Savannah Police Corporal Luis Molina and his wife were found stabbed to death in their Wilmington Island neighborhood on Monday morning.
Police were called to the scene at approximately 6:30 a.m., and arrived to find Cpl. Molina, 53, dead inside his next-door-neighbor’s home, WTVM reported.
They subsequently located the corporal’s wife, 28-year-old Akia Molina, deceased inside the couple’s residence.
(Learn More. Courtesy of the Savannah Morning News and YouTube. Posted on Aug 13, 2018.)
Investigators said they believe the attack occurred inside the Molinas’ home, and that Cpl. Molina then tried to find help at the neighbor’s home, where he ultimately died.
“Primarily, we believe the incident mostly happened at the one location where the deceased female was found,” Chatham County Police Chief Jeff Hadley said, according to the Savannah Morning News.
Police apprehended the corporal’s 16-year-old brother-in-law, Michael Barber, outside the residence.
Barber, who had been living with the couple, has been charged with two counts of malice murder.
“By law, when a juvenile has been arrested for murder, he/she will be tried as an adult,” District Attorney Meg Heap explained.
No motive for the attack was known, and Chief Hadley said he didn’t have any information about what, if any, criminal history they teenager may have, WTVM reported.
“We had responded to that home in the last several weeks,” Chief Hadley said.
“It was some type of domestic situation, but I don’t have any level of detail relative to that.”
The chief noted that many of Chatham County’s officers had also worked for the Savannah Police Department in the past, so many of them had worked with the corporal.
“They know the deceased, they know the folks that are on the scene there, and it becomes incredibly difficult,” Chief Hadley said.
“It’s hard to turn off those emotions for our officers. It’s a tough day in Chatham County for law enforcement, for sure.”
(16-year-old charged with stabbing Savannah officer and his wife to death. Courtesy of 11Alive and YouTube. Posted on Aug 13, 2018.)
Barber waived his first court appearance on Tuesday, WSAV reported. His next hearing has been scheduled for Sep. 13.
Cpl. Molina joined the Savannah Police Department in April of 2006, and was most recently assigned to the gang unit, WJCL reported.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Cpl. Luis Molina and his wife yesterday,” the Savannah Police Department wrote in a Facebook post on Tuesday.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Cpl. Molina and to our Savannah Police family.”
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Savannah Police Corporal Luis Molina, both blood and blue. Thank you for your service.
Rest easy, hero. We’ll hold the line from here.
Editor’s note: Thank you Officer Molina for your service and dedication to the citizens of Savannah. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of officer Molina and his wife Akia Molina.
