An Augusta father remained in jail this weekend for violently shaking his newborn daughter and then blaming her life-threatening injuries on the pet Chihuahua, according to authorities.

Khalil Tyquan Baskett, 20, was charged earlier this month with aggravated assault and cruelty to children in the first degree.

The 5-week-old girl was hospitalized March 11, and X-rays exposed severe injuries including bleeding within the brain, multiple rib fractures, and a broken collarbone. Dr. Renuka Mehta refuted initial claims made by Baskett that the injuries were sustained from a Chihuahua falling on the baby.

Baskett provided investigators with a conflicting account, admitting to leaving the newborn unattended in a baby swing while he attended to personal matters. He alleged that during his absence, his 25-pound Chihuahua inadvertently jumped onto the baby, causing scratches to her face and chest. However, Baskett failed to seek medical assistance following the incident, despite noticing subsequent symptoms, according to a sheriff’s report.

Hannah Nichols, the child’s mother, said that she was not present during the alleged incident but had noticed her daughter’s deteriorating health in the days following. She told officers that she consulted with the child’s pediatrician and sought advice on managing her symptoms. Eventually, she rushed her to the emergency room with the assistance of the child’s  grandmother.

Upon receipt of the report, the sheriff’s office was notified, and the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) was promptly involved.

An update on the child’s condition was not immediately available, but authorities say she was originally admitted in critical condition. Baskett remained Sunday in the Charles B. Webster Detention Center under no bond.

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Richmond County authorities are seeking the public’s help in identifying a suspect wanted for questioning in connection with an identity fraud case that occurred at Cadence Bank, located at 2805 Wrightsboro Road.

The incident started when two unidentified white males entered the bank around 4 p.m. Feb. 28. The individuals requested a printout of an account’s current statement and balances. One of the men presented a passport card bearing his photo and an account holder’s information.

However, suspicions arose when a bank employee looked up the supposed account holder’s details. The worker noted discrepancies in the responses provided by the individuals. Sensing something wrong, she requested they wait while she consulted with her manager. Before any further action could be taken, the men hastily departed from the bank.

Further investigation revealed that the passport card presented by one of the suspects belonged to the victim, an unsuspecting resident of Tennessee. The victim confirmed to authorities that he was not in Augusta at the time and was unaware of anyone using his information.

The incident mirrored a similar occurrence at Cadence Bank’s branch in Evans, though it had not yet been reported to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.

The responding officer secured the passport card as evidence, submitting it to authorities for further examination.

Anyone with information regarding the identity or whereabouts of the suspects is urged to contact Sgt. William Hornsby at (706) 821-1023 or the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office at (706) 821-1020 or (706) 821-1080.

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A single-car accident claimed the life of an Augusta teen and left his juvenile passenger hospitalized.

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO) responded to the scene at Twiggs Street and Laney Walker Boulevard following reports of a traffic accident with injuries. According to the RCSO, the incident occurred at approximately 5:29 a.m. Thursday. Upon arrival, deputies discovered a vehicle that had veered off the road and collided with a tree. Inside the vehicle were two juveniles, one of whom was tragically pronounced dead at the scene.

The deceased has been identified as 17-year-old Jermaine Omar Odom Jr., from the 500 block of Richmond Hill Road. Odom was pronounced dead by authorities at 6:17 a.m. Thursday, Coroner Mark Bowen said.

The RCSO report indicates that the vehicle, traveling west on the 1200 block of Twiggs Street, was moving at a high rate of speed before the driver lost control, resulting in the fatal crash. The other juvenile, whose identity has not been disclosed, was rushed to Augusta University Medical Center (AUMC) for treatment. The extent of their injuries remains undisclosed at this time.

In response to the incident, the Richmond County STAR Team and the Coroner’s Office were deployed to the scene to conduct investigations. The Coroner’s Office is currently leading the investigation into the fatal crash.

Following the completion of initial investigations and necessary procedures, Twiggs Street between Laney Walker Boulevard and Wrightsboro Road has been reopened to traffic.

Note: If you have a better photo or memory to share, please text it to 803-487-3224.

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A Columbia County jailer was arrested on Thursday following allegations of allowing inmates to use a cell phone within the facility.

Riley Austin Peters, 21, was arrested after an investigation was spurred by information received Wednesday, according to sheriff’s Maj. Steve Morris. Peters allegedly provided inmates access to a cell phone within the E Pod housing area of the detention center in Appling. The information further suggested the possibility of financial transactions through platforms like Cash App in exchange for the illicit phone use.

Authorities initiated a lockdown of the E Pod housing area and conducted a comprehensive search of both inmates and the premises after Deputy Peters’ arrival for duty. Subsequently, Peters was escorted to the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) for questioning.

In light of the investigation’s findings, Peters was suspended from duty without pay and sent home. Peters was formally arrested Thursday and charged under OCGA 16-10-1 for Violation of Oath of Office and 42-5-18 for Providing a Telecommunication Device to an Inmate.

The gravity of the situation was underscored by the termination of Riley Peters from his position as Deputy Jailer, effective immediately, Maj. Morris said. Peters had been employed at the Columbia County Detention Center since Jan. 2, 2024.

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Richmond County authorities are seeking the public’s help in locating a teen murder suspect wanted for his role in a November slaying on Verdery Street.

Cameron Williams, 19, is being sought for murder in connection with a Nov. 16 homicide at the intersection of Verdery Street and Oak Street. The teen is known to frequent the vicinity of the incident location and the Georgetown Subdivision. Cameron Williams is considered armed and dangerous, authorities said.

Williams is one of four suspects accused in the shooting death of Myron Garnett. The others already charged with murder: Rodrick Braxton, 15, Anthony Williams, 20, and Shakeichia Jackson, 30.

There are conflicting reports on a motive, but witnesses said Jackson was in a verbal altercation with the victim, who she lived with. A witness told authorities that Garnett had been abusing Jackson.

Also, Jackson reportedly took cocaine from Garnett which caused a disagreement. At some point, the victim’s sister called Garnett’s phone and heard Jackson in the background before the call ended. She called back and Jackson answered.

“If he (Garnett) doesn’t have my money tonight, he is going to die,” Jackson reportedly said. “I don’t care.”

A tipster told authorities that Jackson’s cousins – Anthony and Cameron Williams – were involved in the homicide of Garnett, who died a day after his 32nd birthday. Braxton is being charged as an adult with murder, but he is being held at the Regional Youth Detention Center.

Any information concerning Cameron’s whereabouts, please contact Inv. Tyler Steerman, or any Violent Crimes Investigator at the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office at (706) 821-1427 or (706) 821-1020.

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Paramedics saved a 9-month-old Hephzibah baby on Saturday after he overdosed on a fentanyl-laced straw he got from his mother’s purse, authorities said.

The child’s mother, an illegal immigrant, and her live-in boyfriend were both charged with cruelty to children in the second degree.

Emergency responders were called to the couple’s trailer Saturday morning on James Drive, where paramedics found the infant unresponsive. The child’s mother, Rosa Solis-Garcia of Augusta, confessed that live-in boyfriend Thomas Wright III uses narcotics in the home. She said her infant son may have come into contact with a fentanyl-laced straw while playing with money from her purse, according to authorities.

Emergency medical technicians administered Narcan to the baby, and the child began to breath more regularly. He was then transported to the Medical College of Georgia Hospital, where the infant tested positive for fentanyl ingestion.

Wright, 41, and Solis-Garcia, 37, were subsequently charged with felony cruelty to children in the second degree and booked into the Charles B. Webster Detention Center. Warrants accuse them of causing the child cruel and excessive physical pain.

Solis-Garcia is being held for the U.S. Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Wright was also held for probation and parole. He served time in prison a decade ago for drug and weapons charges in Burke County.

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The Aiken County Coroner’s Office has initiated an investigation into the shooting death of 32-year-old Tavaris Burley, a resident of North Augusta.

Burley succumbed to gunshot wounds following a shooting incident on Wednesday evening, which transpired at a residence located in the 900 block of Old Aiken Road.

According to the Aiken County Coroner Darryl Ables, Burley was pronounced dead at the scene, and his body is scheduled for autopsy on Friday in Newberry.

Aiken County Sheriff’s Capt. Eric Abdullah has issued a public appeal for assistance in locating two suspects wanted in connection with Burley’s murder. The suspects have been identified as Shirlette Dainelle Hayes, 29, and Stephon Xzavier Dunbar, 23.

The incident unfolded on Wednesday around 5:22 p.m., when deputies responded to reports of a shooting in the 900 block of Old Aiken Road. Witnesses recounted seeing Hayes and Dunbar fleeing the scene in a vehicle shortly after the incident.

Hayes is described as a Black female, standing 5’8” tall, weighing approximately 120 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. Dunbar is identified as a Black male, 6’00” tall, weighing around 130 pounds, also with black hair and brown eyes. Both suspects are considered armed and dangerous.

Authorities urge anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Hayes and Dunbar to contact the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office at (803)648-6811. Additionally, tipsters can submit information anonymously through the Sheriff’s Office website.

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An Aiken man died Saturday night after hitting an ambulance on Richland Avenue West, a wreck that also caused minor injuries to the EMS crew inside.

Alonzo “Zo” Carter, 20, was driving a Dodge Charger around 10:20 p.m. Saturday when he collided with the ambulance on the passenger side, killing him. At the time, Carter was running from a S.C. Highway Patrol trooper who had activated his lights and turned around to conduct a traffic stop on him, according to sheriff’s Capt. Eric Abdullah.

“The trooper didn’t catch up until the collision,” the captain said.

The ambulance, belonging to Aiken County, was in the process of turning onto Augusta Road when the collision transpired. Fortunately, the EMS crew on board the ambulance sustained only minor injuries and was promptly transported to Aiken Regional Medical Centers for treatment.

The ambulance was not transporting any patients at the time of the accident, mitigating further casualties, authorities said.

Coroner Darryl Ables confirmed the tragic loss of Alonzo Carter in the collision. The deceased will undergo an autopsy in Newberry as part of the investigation process. The joint investigation, involving the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office, Aiken Department of Public Safety, and the Coroner’s Office, is currently ongoing.

Authorities are piecing together the events leading up to the collision to understand the circumstances surrounding the incident fully.

The fatality comes just weeks after another Aiken driver died after crossing the center line and colliding with an ambulance, injuring the EMS driver and two others inside.

Isaiah Johnson Jr., 33, was pronounced dead on the scene after the March 1 crash at the intersection of Hitchcock Parkway and Northwood Drive. Johnson was traveling east on Hitchcock Parkway in a 2010 Honda Civic when he crossed the centerline and collided with an Aiken County Emergency Medical Service ambulance that was traveling west on Hitchcock Parkway.

“Mr. Johnson was pronounced dead on the scene and will be autopsied in Newberry,” the coroner said in a press release. “The EMS unit was transporting a patient at the time of the accident, (and) that patient along with the driver of the ambulance and the EMS employee who was attending to the patient were transported to the hospital for their injuries.”

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A Hephzibah man was locked up on an animal cruelty charge after allegedly beating a stray dog to near death with a stick and rake, authorities said.

Thomas Britt Rogers Jr., 72, was charged Friday with aggravated cruelty to animals, a felony, after a horrifying attack on a defenseless female canine named Khalani. (Update on condition below.)

The incident occurred at 3260 Parker Road, Hephzibah, Ga., on the morning of March 20. According to authorities, Rogers used a stick and potato rake to repeatedly strike Khalani across her body, inflicting severe injuries.

The dog sustained a severe fracture to her last lumbar vertebra, with displacement of the pelvis. Additionally, her tail was broken from the pelvis, and she suffered puncture wounds to her left rear leg, broken teeth, facial swelling, and swelling along the rib area and lower back.

Veterinary experts noted that the injuries were consistent with a tremendous downward force of the object striking the lower back, causing significant trauma to the animal. Khalani, described as a female stray dog, was left in agonizing pain as a result of this brutal assault.

Animal control swiftly responded to the scene following the incident and transported Khalani to Rodgers Veterinary Service in Thomson. Her condition was not available at the time of this report.

The authorities have classified the incident as a felony due to the severity of the injuries inflicted upon Khalani and the deliberate nature of the attack.

UPDATE: After posting this initial story, a group of volunteers with Dog and Cat Networking Agents posted an update on Facebook, saying Khalani received amazing care at Rodgers Veterinary Service. They said the canine has a long road to recovery and is in the hands of their networking group of compassionate volunteers.

“Kahlani is in the care of our rescue, Dog Networking Agents,” a volunteer told us. “Her injuries are pretty severe. She is still being housed at one of our Veterinarians and receiving excellent care. She was initially paralyzed from her injuries. She has months of recovery ahead and will need physical therapy. Honestly, the injuries to her spine were pretty severe. She will probably never be the dog she once was.”

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Grovetown police are investigating the homicides of a mother and child on Monday morning who were killed before the suspect set fire to the home on Newmantown Road.

Early Monday morning, at approximately 10:53 a.m., the Grovetown Fire Department received a distress call regarding a blaze at 309 Newmantown Road. Simultaneously, the City of Grovetown’s General Services Director stumbled upon the inferno engulfing a residence. Reacting swiftly, he attempted to intervene, only to be alerted by a neighbor that occupants remained trapped inside.

Firefighters arrived promptly at 10:56 a.m. and initiated efforts to penetrate the burning structure in a bid to rescue any potential occupants. Amidst the chaos, they discovered 32-year-old Donald Beck near a rear window, evidently attempting to flee the blaze. Beck, subsequently rescued and attended to by EMS, revealed information about others trapped inside.

Tragically, amidst the debris, firefighters uncovered the lifeless bodies of an adult female, identified as 47-year-old Karen Denise Boswell and her juvenile son. Both had succumbed to apparent thermal injuries, but further examination revealed they had also sustained knife wounds. The discovery prompted calls to the Coroner and the State Fire Marshal’s Office to the scene.

Grovetown Police Chief Jamey Kitchens announced that the case is now being investigated as a homicide, with the Grovetown Police Department leading the charge alongside state authorities and the District Attorney’s Office. Beck, who shared the residence with Boswell and several juveniles, has emerged as a prime suspect and is currently under guard at a local hospital.

A woman identifying herself as the sister of the woman killed went on Facebook Live to threaten the suspect. Through tears, she used the first name of the alleged killer, telling him, “You better f***ing run, and you better f***ing run, for sure! You killed my sister and my god baby. You better go, because I am coming for you.”

Neighbor J.R. McGee said his daughter ran up to him and told him the neighbor’s house was on fire and he thought she was joking since it was April Fool’s Day. But he soon saw black smoke.

Another witness tried to get someone’s attention and failed, so they called 911. When firefighters arrived, they broke a window to begin fighting the fire, and pulled the suspect out, but he was fighting them. The suspect then started yelling at McGee.

“I could hear the lady screaming in the house,” McGhee said. “I heard her screaming still in my head now. So they kept fighting and and fighting to get him. And they got him out on a stretcher. And he said, ‘Where is my wife and son? Where is my wife and son?’

The suspect continued yelling and screaming before being taken by ambulance in handcuffs to a local hospital.

McGee said the woman in the home had been living there for more than five years while the man had only been staying there for four or five months. The couple fought a lot, the neighbor said.

(Stephanie Hill contributed to this report.)

(Note: If you have a photo of Karen Denise Boswell or the juvenile son who also died to share, please text it to 803-487-3224.)

The post Mom & Child Dead in Grovetown Homicides; Home Set on Fire to Cover Up Deaths appeared first on AugustaCrime.com.

An Augusta father remained in jail this weekend for violently shaking his newborn daughter and then blaming her life-threatening injuries on the pet Chihuahua, according to authorities.

Khalil Tyquan Baskett, 20, was charged earlier this month with aggravated assault and cruelty to children in the first degree.

The 5-week-old girl was hospitalized March 11, and X-rays exposed severe injuries including bleeding within the brain, multiple rib fractures, and a broken collarbone. Dr. Renuka Mehta refuted initial claims made by Baskett that the injuries were sustained from a Chihuahua falling on the baby.

Baskett provided investigators with a conflicting account, admitting to leaving the newborn unattended in a baby swing while he attended to personal matters. He alleged that during his absence, his 25-pound Chihuahua inadvertently jumped onto the baby, causing scratches to her face and chest. However, Baskett failed to seek medical assistance following the incident, despite noticing subsequent symptoms, according to a sheriff’s report.

Hannah Nichols, the child’s mother, said that she was not present during the alleged incident but had noticed her daughter’s deteriorating health in the days following. She told officers that she consulted with the child’s pediatrician and sought advice on managing her symptoms. Eventually, she rushed her to the emergency room with the assistance of the child’s  grandmother.

Upon receipt of the report, the sheriff’s office was notified, and the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) was promptly involved.

An update on the child’s condition was not immediately available, but authorities say she was originally admitted in critical condition. Baskett remained Sunday in the Charles B. Webster Detention Center under no bond.

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The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office rushed to Diamond Lakes Park on Monday afternoon following reports of gunfire during what was initially a harmless water gun fight organized for senior skip day.

What began as innocent fun quickly spiraled into a terrifying ordeal for students and parents alike. At precisely 2:21 p.m. Monday, authorities were alerted to shots fired within the park premises.

Upon arrival, law enforcement discovered one individual had sustained at least one gunshot wound. The injuries were deemed non-life-threatening, and the victim was swiftly transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.

April Covington, a concerned parent who opted to remain at the park while her child participated in the water gun fight, recounted the harrowing turn of events on Facebook.

Covington’s post detailed her decision to stay by the pond as her child joined the festivities. However, the jovial atmosphere was shattered when rumors of a real firearm circulated among the participants. According to Covington’s account, panic ensued as students attempted to flee the scene in fear for their safety.

Eyewitness reports corroborate Covington’s narrative, with accounts of students frantically seeking refuge as the sound of gunfire echoed through the park. Amidst the chaos, one individual was left wounded, underscoring the severity of the situation.

In the aftermath, Diamond Lakes Park officials announced a temporary park closure.

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An Augusta teen was shot Monday night on Bolt Drive and died later at the hospital, authorities said.

Makel Jones, 19, was shot just before midnight Monday on the 2000 block of Bolt Drive. He was rushed to Wellstar MCG, where he was pronounced dead at 12:37 a.m. Tuesday, Coroner Mark Bowen said.

Authorities said they responded to gunfire around 11:40 p.m. Monday and arrived after Jones had been taken to the hospital.

Richmond County authorities have identified a suspect but they have not been arrested, and their name has not been released.

The victim’s aunt, Jessica Tellado, said the shooting happened while a group of them were outside. She said her nephew was trying to defend his sister from a male acquaintance who had struck Jones’ sister.

“(Makel) was like, ‘Don’t hit on my sister like that. … (The suspect) came back and shot him in the stomach,” Tellado said. “He didn’t even touch the guy. He just said keep your hands to yourself.”

Jones was being remembered online as a young father to a 1-year-old boy and someone who enjoyed working out at the Boys and Girls Club. He also has an identical twin who has not taken the death well, according to Tellado.

Jay Pooser said, “That’s crazy man. Nobody should lose their life at such an young age. Y’all gotta stop all that shooting each other.”

Note: If you have a better photo of Makel or a memory to share, please text it to 803-487-3224.

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A Grovetown man accused of killing his live-in girlfriend and her 6-year-old son was released from the hospital Tuesday and booked for double murder, authorities said.

Donald Beck, 32, is facing two counts of murder and a single count of arson in Monday’s slayings of his girlfriend Karen Denise Boswell and her 6-year-old son, Ethan. The victims were found dead inside the burning home on 309 Newmantown Road in Grovetown with investigators realizing later that the victims had sustained knife wounds.

Authorities say a real estate agent had gone to the home Monday regarding sale of the rental property and realized the house was on fire. When firefighters answered a 911 call, they found Beck trying to get out of the home, and he fought with them before being handcuffed and taken to the hospital on a stretcher. He apparently suffered burns from the fire that he set, possibly to cover up the murders, authorities said.

Boswell was living at the home with five of her children, with most of them at school, according to her mother. But Ethan was sick and had been at a children’s hospital with an upcoming surgery being scheduled.

The victim started a GoFundMe page, describing Ethan’s rare condition called OEIS syndrome that would require a long medical journey. She said Ethan had undergone numerous surgeries since birth, including ones to address organs outside his body, a split bladder, and other complications associated with the condition.  She said he had upcoming surgeries and extended hospital stays.

Boswell had taken an unpaid leave from Starbucks to care for Ethan, and she said the financial strain was significant. She was seeking GoFundMe donations for medical supplies, gifts to keep Ethan entertained during his hospital stays and general support. But she only raised $223 of a $15,000 goal.

Boswell had told co-workers at the Starbucks on Mike Padgett Highway that Beck was abusing her and was trying to get out of the relationship. She had previously told friends that Beck was “the love of her life,” before it turned violent, according to former co-worker and friend Roland Burbine.

“I was shocked. I would have never thought that would happen to her and her son. I thought her son was still in the hospital,” Burbine said. “She had several (previous) boyfriends who she wasn’t that comfortable with. When she worked with me at Solo Cup, she got married there to another guy. … I think (Beck) was mainly kind of in love with her, and when she broke it up, I think he went berserk. That’s why he did that. She told me she was going to break up with him because he abused her.”

When he was arrested for shoplifting in Aiken County last fall, Beck gave authorities the Newmantown Road home as is his address. On Tuesday, he was at the Columbia County Detention Center.

Autopsies are planned on the two victims, and police were working with social services to place the other children. Relatives of Boswell said she has seven children in total from different fathers, and she was a grandmother since her adult son had a child. One of the seven children previously passed away.

The post Grovetown Man Jailed for Killing Girlfriend & Her Sick Son Amid Break-Up appeared first on AugustaCrime.com.

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office has apprehended and charged Katravion Roberson, a 17-year-old resident, with multiple serious offenses following an alarming incident near a school bus stop.

Responding to reports of shots fired at the intersection of Lovers Lane and Sapelo Circle at 7:50 a.m. Tuesday, deputies arrived to find a male suspect firing a firearm in the vicinity of the bus stop where several children were awaiting transportation to school.

Although no injuries were reported, the potential danger posed by the situation prompted a rapid and determined response from law enforcement authorities.

Roberson has been charged with four counts of aggravated assault and one count of weapon possession. He has since been booked into the Charles B Webster Detention Center, pending further legal proceedings.

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Authorities are seeking a murder suspect and another for questioning in Monday night’s fatal shooting of an Augusta teen who was trying to protect his sister.

Dominique Dezel Beal, 27 (top left photo), is wanted for murder in the shooting death of 19-year-old Makel Jones on Bolt Drive.

A second man, 27-year-old Denzel Shaw (top right photo) is wanted for questioning in the slaying. Shaw is known to frequent the Spiderweb neighborhood in Beech Island as well as the Dogwood Terrace Subdivision in Augusta. Shaw has multiple outstanding warrants through the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Marshals for unrelated incidents.

The teen was angry with Beal for striking his sister and stepped in between them, prompting Beal to pull out a 40-caliber handgun and shoot multiple rounds at the teen, authorities said. He died later at a local hospital.

Jones was remembered online as a young father to a 1-year-old boy and someone who enjoyed working out at the Boys and Girls Club. He is also survived by an identical twin.

Anyone with information concerning the whereabouts of Beal or Shaw, please contact Inv. Sean Morrow or any Violent Crimes Investigator at the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office at (706) 821-1020 or (706) 432-5281.

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A 15-year-old boy is fighting for his life after being shot Wednesday night at Rowe’s Roost Mobile Home Park in Hephzibah, and three teens have been arrested.

Authorities say they responded at 7:49 p.m. Wednesday to the shooting on Hephzibah McBean Road.

Witnesses say the teen who was shot inside the mobile home park and was taken by private vehicle to the Gas Pro on Highway 25 at Highway 88. That’s where an ambulance arrived. He was rushed to Augusta University Medical Center, where he underwent surgery and placed on a breathing tube.

Meanwhile, authorities arrested three young men, including Caleb Wilson, 17, Dawson Wilson, 18, and Devan Wilson, 18. All three were charged with aggravated assault and weapon possession. A fourth possible suspect is reportedly being sought.

The Wilson trio were being held Thursday night without bond at the Charles B. Webster Detention Center. Their relationship to each other was not clear.

Richmond County authorities released very little information on the case, but witnesses say the shooting tied up traffic along Hephzibah McBean Road for a while a several deputies arrived to investigate. The teen victim did not live at Rowe’s Roost Mobole Home Park, a witness said.

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A local father and motorcycle enthusiast was killed early Friday after striking a train in downtown Augusta, authorities said.

Jonathan Williams, 33, of Aiken, was traveling east on his motorcycle on the 600 block of Reynolds Street when he struck a southbound train on the 6^th Street railroad tracks, Coroner Mark Bowen said. He was pronounced dead at 1:15 a.m. Friday.

While an investigation is underway, no autopsy is planned, the coroner said.

Williams was remembered online by a long list of friends, including Deanna Harvey, who said he had been a part of her life for over 15 years.

“From water slide parties at his house to Vegas bombs in the loft… anytime I saw jwilly, I knew I was safe and didn’t need to worry about a thing because he always took good care of me!” she said. “If I knew dirty boots was the last place I’d see you, I would have hugged your neck so much tighter. I regret never just taking the time off work to go to bike week with you over the years…. You’re an amazing friend and an even better dad…. I love you so much…. thankyou for always saving me when I got into trouble. Fly high.”

Williams posted last year that he had given his life to God.

“I decided it’s time for a change to turn a new leaf over my wicked way to stop living the way I’ve been living. To accept Jesus Christ into my life as my savior to forgive me of my sins,” he wrote. “So (I) guess this message is for ones that think the same way as I did. But I can promise you once u accept Jesus Christ u will not just be making it, you will make change.”

Williams’ Facebook page includes several photos of his motorcycle, with his children often posing on the seat. He posted artwork in November, showing an angel floating alongside a biker while he enjoys the speed of the open road.

(If you have a better photo or memory of Jonathan to share, please text it to 803-487-3224.)

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A Hephzibah man was driving 125 mph in a Dodge Charger last month before he fatally struck an ordained minister on Tobacco Road, authorities said.

The speed went down to 80 mph when driver Markell Holliday finally hit a vehicle with Dr. Charles Willie Bickley behind the wheel, authorities said. Bickley was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead.

Holliday, a decorated Army veteran, was charged Thursday with felony homicide by vehicle in the March 21 death, accused of driving recklessly and causing the victim’s death. He was released on bond, and he has a previous DUI arrest from two years ago.

The 64-year-old victim was an ordained minister and taught at East Central Regional Hospital at the time he was killed.

Authorities say Holliday was speeding on Tobacco Road at Woodcock Drive around 7 a.m. March 21 when the front of his Dodge Charger struck the driver’s side of the Dr. Bickley’s Toyota C-HR.

Richmond County authorities obtained data from the control module on Holliday’s car, which showed he was traveling at 125 mph at some point before the collision. The data shows he was traveling 80 mph when the collision occurred. The speed limit on that stretch of Tobacco Road is 45 mph, but it was a Thursday morning and the accident happened in a school zone, where the speed can be lowered to 35 mph if the lights are flashing.

The suspect’s 2022 DUI arrest appears unresolved in the county’s online management system, with a jury trial requested right away before his attorney filed a motion for a speedy trial. The case shows no action after May 2022 when the state filed motions for discovery and a list of witnesses.

The suspect left the military in 2013 and went to work for the Army as an instructor in Electromagnetic Spectrum Management. Holliday obtained an Associate’s degree from the University of Phoenix.

The victim was buried March 30 with members of his fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi, serving as pallbearers. In an online tribute, a friend said Dr. Bickley’s legacy “will live on through the thousands of students, co-workers, friends, fellow parishioners, and acquaintances he touched.”

From the obituary: “Charles was educated in the public schools of Richland County and was a proud graduate of Dreher High School, Class of 1979. Charles participated in a wide variety of activities while a student at Dreher. He furthered his education and received his Associate Degree in Arts Major Criminal Justice/Behavior Modification from the University of South Carolina in 1984. During his time at the University of South Carolina, Charles was a part of the ‘A Touch of Faith’ gospel choir. Charles obtained his Bachelor Degree of Arts in Early Childhood Education Administration from Ashford University in 2013. Four years later in 2017, he received his Master’s of Education in Curriculum and Instruction (emphasis in Teacher Leadership) from Salem International University in 2017. Later, in December 2022, Charles received his Doctor of Education Leadership & Innovation degree from St. Thomas University.

“Charles was also an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated’s Columbia Alumni (SC) Chapter.

“At an early age, Charles became a member of First Nazareth Baptist Church. He joined the First Nazareth Chorales and sang with them for several years. He eventually was called by the Lord to preach His gospel and became an Ordained Minister.“

The post Hephzibah Man was Going 125 MPH Before Killing Minister in Car Wreck appeared first on AugustaCrime.com.

A tragic collision between a motorcycle and a vehicle at the intersection of Walton Way and Hickman Road left a young man dead on Saturday.

Coroner Mark Bowen of the Richmond County Coroner’s Office confirmed that the victim was 22-year-old Tristan Clark, a native of La Valle, Wisconsin.

According to reports from the scene, Clark was riding his motorcycle along Walton Way when a vehicle attempting to enter the road struck him.

Emergency services rushed to the scene following the collision, and Clark was transported to Wellstar MCG for urgent medical attention. Despite the efforts of medical professionals, he was pronounced dead at 1:53 p.m. Saturday.

Bowen has indicated that an autopsy has been scheduled to determine the exact cause of Tristan Clark’s death. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collision is ongoing, with authorities working to piece together the events leading up to the tragic incident.

James Leopard said Clark was staying in the area off Walton Way on Lancaster Road.

“He worked at Aiken Airport. He was a very good guy it’s terrible to lose such a young life only 22,” Leopard said on Facebook. “I was the last person he talked to. He was on the way to meet us to ride dirt roads. The Trauma called me because I was sending him texts trying to figure out where he was. I had to contact his Mother in Wisconsin. Not a easy phone call to make.”

Further updates on the investigation will be provided as they become available.

(Note: If you have a better photo of Tristan or memory to share, please text it to 803-487-3224.)

The post Collision Claims Life of Young Motorcyclist in Augusta appeared first on AugustaCrime.com.