27-Year-Old Woman Shot and Killed in Car Near Strickland Road in Hinesville; Police Say It Was Not Random

HINESVILLE, Ga. — July 16, 2025 — The city of Hinesville is mourning the sudden and tragic loss of Kretia Clancy, a 27-year-old woman who died Tuesday night after being found shot inside a car on a quiet roadside.

According to the Hinesville Police Department, officers responded around 9:00 p.m. to the area near Strickland Road and E.G. Miles Parkway, where a call had come in about a woman slumped inside a parked vehicle. Upon arrival, police found Clancy with a gunshot wound to her back. She was still alive but unresponsive.

Emergency responders transported her to Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah, where doctors rushed her into emergency surgery. Tragically, despite their best efforts, Clancy was pronounced dead on the operating table.

Police say the case is now being investigated as a homicide, and they believe the shooting was targeted.

“We have reason to believe the victim and the suspect were known to one another,” said Police Chief Lloyd Slater during a press briefing. “At this time, this does not appear to be a random act of violence.”

 A Community Grieves: “She Didn’t Deserve This”

Clancy’s death has left her family, friends, and neighbors devastated. Those who knew her describe her as a warm, funny, and compassionate woman who cared deeply for the people around her.

“Kretia had this beautiful spirit — always uplifting others, always checking in,” said her cousin, Tasha Clancy. “She was young, she was just getting her life together. She didn’t deserve to be taken like this.”

On social media, the news has sparked an outpouring of grief, with tributes pouring in from friends and former classmates. Many posted old photos, shared stories of her kindness, and demanded justice.

“You were light, you were love, and now you’re gone,” wrote one close friend in a public post. “Rest easy, Kretia. We will not stop until your voice is heard.”

 What Police Know So Far

Investigators say that Clancy was alone in the vehicle at the time she was found and that there were no signs of forced entry. Police have not yet released the name of a suspect, but they confirm that they are actively following leads and gathering evidence.

“We are examining surveillance footage from nearby businesses and speaking to potential witnesses,” said Detective Rachel Simmons, one of the lead investigators on the case. “We urge anyone who saw something or heard something, no matter how minor, to come forward.”

No weapon has been recovered, and no arrests have been made as of Wednesday afternoon.

 A Life Interrupted

Clancy had reportedly been working locally and was described by loved ones as someone who was striving to build a stable, peaceful life. Friends say she loved music, family cookouts, and late-night phone calls with her siblings.

“She was finally finding her rhythm,” said longtime friend Danielle Morton. “To be taken so violently, so suddenly—it’s something we’ll never understand.”

 Investigation Ongoing; Police Ask for Public’s Help

The Liberty County Coroner’s Office confirmed that an autopsy will be conducted this week to determine the official cause of death. Meanwhile, detectives continue to treat this case as an active homicide investigation.

Anyone who may have been in the area of Strickland Road and E.G. Miles Parkway between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Tuesday night is urged to contact police.

To submit tips, call the Hinesville Police Department at (912) 368-8211, or submit anonymously through Liberty County Crime Stoppers.

 The Death of Kretia Clancy Is Not Just Another Case

As the investigation unfolds, her loved ones are holding tight to her memory—not as a victim of a statistic, but as a full human being: a daughter, a cousin, and a best friend.

Her family is now preparing to lay her to rest while still waiting for answers—and for justice.

“We just want to know why,” said her cousin Tasha. “And we want the person responsible to be held accountable.”

More updates will be published as authorities release additional information.