By Caitlin Philippo
THE senseless death of educator Dr. Linda Davis in Savannah last week has left Chatham County with more questions than answers.
The fatal car crash took place on Whitefield Avenue just outside Hesse K-8 School when a man attempting to flee federal immigration agents ran a red light and struck Davis’s vehicle.
Oscar Vasquez-Lopez, a Guatemalan national, has since been taken into custody by the Chatham County Police on multiple charges, including First-degree Vehicular Homicide.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, Vasquez-Lopez was issued a final order of removal in 2024 after entering the country illegally.
The aggressive tactics of ICE in their effort toward mass detainments have served as a lightning rod for politicians and the everyman on both sides of the aisle, as widespread disagreements continue over what appropriate immigration law enforcement should look like.
While the debate rages on, innocent bystanders have repeatedly and fatally been caught in the crosshairs.
According to a statement released by the Chatham County Police Department, they were “not a part of the DHS/ICE operation, attempted traffic stop, or pursuit.”
The statement went on to say that they were unaware that ICE was operating in their jurisdiction. Despite potential safety concerns, federal law enforcement agencies are not legally obligated to inform local law enforcement that they are operating in their area.
Mayor Van Johnson spoke out against the lack of awareness, stating that “it appears or seems that federal agencies either don’t care, don’t have the propensity to care about the local community.”
Johnson went on to say, “I know for a fact that the Savannah Police Department did not know. Certainly, this mayor did not know. And we’re told that our county partners did not know either.”
While self-proclaimed MAGA warrior Buddy Carter primarily used the event to attack his opponent Jon Ossoff in the upcoming 2026 Senate race, even he showed concern about the lack of interdepartmental communication, stating that “local authorities should know what ICE is doing. If they didn’t, somebody needs to answer for that.”
According to recent reporting from The Current, ICE has been operating on that stretch of road since September of last year.
The Department of Homeland Security released a statement on Monday that placed the blame on Democratic officials, saying that “after months of sanctuary politicians encouraging and instructing illegal aliens to resist and evade federal law enforcement, a criminal illegal alien attempting to flee from ICE law enforcement struck and killed a motorist in Savannah.”
This DHS commentary might be particularly confusing to some, as there are no sanctuary cities in Georgia, as repeatedly mandated by the current administration.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin – just before resigning from the office last week – doubled down on this perspective, stating that “this vehicular homicide is an absolute tragedy and deadly consequence of politicians and the media constantly demonizing ICE officers and encouraging those here illegally to resist arrest…”
While the statement detailed Vasquez-Lopez's actions, it failed to address those of its own agents, whose actions on Monday appear in clear conflict with its policy and procedures.
As provided by ICE’s own information library, an emergency driving handbook clearly states that the necessity of high-speed pursuits must be weighed against concerns of public safety.
The policy dictates that “LEOs must consider and evaluate critical safety issues posed by emergency driving, including the potential risk of death or serious physical injury to themselves, the general public, and the suspect, and should engage in emergency driving only when they determine that the seriousness of the emergency or the severity of the suspected criminal offense outweighs the risk of death or serious physical injury associated with such driving.”
While it was a collision with Vasquez-Lopez’s vehicle that caused the death of Dr. Davis, the event calls into focus the country-wide tactics that have become the new norm for ICE, whose relentless pursuit of immigrants often involves a level of recklessness not often used for cases that end up in civil court proceedings.
While crossing the border illegally is often inaccurately considered a criminal act, it is a misdemeanor. Remaining in the country without the proper visa is only a civil offense.
The Standard Operating Procedures of the Chatham County Police Department make this critical distinction, stating that a vehicle pursuit is justified only if the “officer has reasonable grounds to believe the offender has committed or is attempting to commit a forcible felony of a violent nature and when the necessity of the immediate apprehension outweighs the level of danger created by the pursuit.”
As DHS has made no mention of Vasquez-Lopez committing or intending to commit a violent felony grade act, local laws do not justify ICE’s actions on Monday.
Additionally, the federal handbook also states that a prominent consideration should be “whether the suspect’s identity is known and whether the suspect could be apprehended through means other than apprehension via a vehicular pursuit.”
According to DHS’s own statement, Vasquez-Lopez has been on their radar, and they had previously been able to locate him in the area.
DHS has made no additional statements regarding the behavior of its officers, nor has it addressed the concerning gaps in its own procedures. The DHS statement can be read in its entirety here.
See the GoFundMe for the family of Dr. Linda Davis here.
Following is a statement from the family:
With profound sorrow, we mourn the tragic loss of Dr. Linda Davis. Today, we want the public to know who Linda was and how deeply she mattered to our family and our community. Her character and her lifelong commitment to helping others deserve to be known and recognized. Today is not, however, the day to discuss the circumstances of her passing.
Linda was a devoted wife, mother, sister, colleague, friend, and teacher. She understood that life is a divine gift, and she believed that all God’s children deserve compassion and respect. An educator for nearly 18 years, she devoted her life to serving others, and her impact extended far beyond the classroom. She poured herself into her community, mentored countless individuals and students, and led with grace, integrity, and deep care for people. One act at a time, Linda built a life of extraordinary meaning and influence. Much of her legacy will live on in the lives of those she touched. She was magnificent.
We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love, prayers, and support from the public. We see the gatherings, the messages, and the many acts of kindness, and we are sincerely thankful. Your compassion has provided comfort during an unimaginable time.
We also thank the administration and staff of Hesse K-8 School and the Chatham County School District for the care, concern, and support they have shown during this difficult period.
Dr. Linda Davis should still be with our family and part of this community. When the time is appropriate, we will seek answers regarding the circumstances surrounding her death. For now, we ask that the focus remain on Linda’s life and contributions. At this time, we will not comment on or speculate about the circumstances that ultimately led to her passing.
Because of the nature of this tragedy, we have not yet had the opportunity to fully say goodbye. This has made our grieving process especially difficult. We respectfully ask for continued compassion and privacy as we navigate the days ahead.
Many have asked how to support our family during this time. A verified financial support page has been established to provide stability for the family as they navigate this loss and to help preserve Linda’s legacy of mentorship and community care. Information for those who wish to contribute can be found here: https://gofund.me/7c2c1d4de