Arrests Made in Thursday Home Invasion Investigation

Two individuals have been arrested in an investigation of a home invasion that occurred Thursday at The Vault Apartments on Statesboro Place Circle.  Zion Cornelius and Antania Sanders, both of Savannah, were charged with Home Invasion- 1st Degree and Aggravated Assault. Both remain at the Bulloch County Jail pending further judicial action.

From Statesboro Police Department:

On 12/21/23 at 1:00 p.m. SPD officers and detectives responded to a report of shots fired at The Vault Apartments on Statesboro Place Circle. Upon arriving, they observed shell casings, blood, and obvious damage to an apartment. The tenants of the apartment were cooperative and interviewed by detectives on scene. They related how a masked male, accompanied by two females, had forcibly entered the apartment. A physical struggle between the suspect male and one of the tenants ensued, during which the tenant used his lawfully possessed handgun to shoot the male suspect. The suspects fled the apartment and the tenants called 911.

SPD dispatchers contacted local hospitals attempting to locate the wounded suspect. They identified a male, later identified as Zion Cornelius (21, Savannah, Ga), being treated for a non-life threatening gunshot wound at Evans Memorial Hospital in Claxton. Evans County Sheriff’s deputies and Claxton Police officers responded to the hospital and contacted Cornelius and his girlfriend, Antania Sanders (20, Savannah, Ga). SPD detectives arrived as well to interview Sanders and Cornelius.

Based on evidence gathered from the scene, Flock camera footage, and interviews with witnesses and the suspects themselves, Cornelius and Sanders were arrested and charged with Home Invasion- 1st Degree and Aggravated Assault. Both were transported to the Bulloch County Jail where they remain pending further judicial action.

SPD would like to thank the Evans County Sheriff’s Office and Claxton Police Department for their tremendous assistance in this case.

Anyone with information on this case should contact Senior Detective Dustin Cross at 912-764-9911 or submit an anonymous tip to www.tipsoft.com or by texting 274637 and entering “TIPSSPD” plus your message.