Gunman shot after he fires into downtown Augusta crowd; 2 others injured (2024)

Published: Jun. 8, 2024 at 4:40 AM EDT|Updated: Jun. 8, 2024 at 10:24 PM EDT

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - A man opened fire into a crowd of people in downtown Augusta and was shot by deputies early Saturday, according to Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.

In total, three people were wounded, including the gunman, and their wounds aren’t life-threatening.

Still, it could have been much worse, Sheriff Richard Roundtree noted in a news conference Saturday afternoon.

It could have easily been a mass shooting, but it wasn’t, Roundtree said of what he described as a massive crime scene.

The drama started unfolding around 1:15 a.m. at 10th and Broad streets.

Two firearm-wielding males were exchanging gunfire in the middle of a crowded sidewalk, and at least one of the gunmen fired into a crowd of bystanders, Roundtree said. His agency referred to the weapon as an “assault rifle.”

Two people were hurt, suffering injuries that weren’t life-threatening, Roundtree said.

Two nearby deputies were working special duty at nearby businesses, and they heard the gunfire and responded, shooting one of the suspects, Roundtree said.

The gunman and the two other injured people were taken to hospitals and were stable Saturday afternoon, according to Roundtree. News 12 learned that at the suspect’s hospital, there was a heavy law enforcement presence both inside and outside.

The second suspect has not been identified.

“I cannot stress the magnitude of the intervention of our deputies. There is no doubt that without swift and heroic efforts to neutralize a heavily armed gunman, the potential for massive loss of life was extremely great,” Roundtree said.

The deputies were placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard in a situation like this.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is assisting in this investigation, which is also routine for an officer-involved shooting.

Roundtree couldn’t comment on the age of the suspects or the motive, since it’s an active investigation.

But he called it a senseless and brazen act of violence.

Roundtree asked that members of the public who have information or video from the incident contact the GBI or his office.

Mayor Garnett Johnson said he reached out to Gov. Brian Kemp to get some additional resources in patrolling the downtown area, especially late at night. That help was granted through the Georgia State Patrol and Georgia Department of Natural Resources, according to officials.

Roundtree said there was already an increased presence of officers in the area, and the help from the state will bolster that presence at least through the summer.

ON SATURDAY NIGHT:

• News 12 drove along Broad Street around 10 p.m. Saturday and saw some law enforcement presence, although it’s unclear whether that was stepped up from the night before. There was a white unmarked Chevy Impala with blue lights on parked in front of Dirty Boots. There was also a deputy parked in front of the Firestone Auto Shop. And there was another Richmond County Sheriff’s Office car parked at Broad and 12th streets. We saw one Georgia State Patrol car; the trooper had a woman in handcuffs. Some popular night spots had people inside, but they didn’t seem packed.

Johnson said he’s heard from business owners that they want a safer downtown, and he pledged to make that happen.

Augusta Commission member Jordan Johnson also said downtown is safe. However, “we’re not going to yield our downtown to people who want to do bad things,” he said.

Some business owners don’t agree. At Roundtree’s news conference, 20 to 25 business owners showed up and peppered him with complaints and questions, especially about young people loitering. One told the sheriff that he doesn’t get a response from deputies when he calls 911.

Roundtree called the gunmen’s actions a “total disregard for public safety in yet another act of violence on Richmond County.”

People told News 12 they heard what sounded like 100 gunshots. Roundtree said he couldn’t comment on the number of rounds, but said it was a “massive amount.”

It wasn’t a deadly incident, since Richmond County Coroner Mark Bowen says he wasn’t involved.

But it easily could have been, considering the number of rounds fired – and it happened just three days after Richmond County public safety agencies gathered for a symposium on preparing for active-shooter incidents and other potential mass casualties.

PHOTO GALLERY:

At the scene Saturday morning, crime tape fluttered in the breeze and law enforcement officers from the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and Georgia Bureau of Investigation combed the area.

Plywood covered the windows of many businesses where the glass had been shot out.

The Solè restaurant – where much of the attention was focused after the shooting – had a sign posted that it would be closed due to unforeseen circ*mstances and would reopen Monday.

Traffic on Broad Street was blocked Saturday morning between 10th and 13th streets, and some connecting roads were blocked, too. But at least some traffic was flowing again by 10:45 a.m.

Several cars had been shot up and windows were shattered at some nearby businesses. Some of the cars were being towed around 10:45. Deputies told News 12 the decision to tow had come from the GBI.

It also appeared some people were being allowed behind the tape to retrieve their cars.

Evidence markers were on the pavement of Broad Street behind and on the trunks of some of the cars parked along Broad Street.

By 11:25 a.m., much of the crime tape had been pulled down, and by Saturday afternoon it seemed like a normal Saturday afternoon. People were outside walking around and eating at local restaurants.

And by Saturday evening, downtown was busy, parking was slim and restaurants had customers, although people told us business wasn’t as robust as a normal Saturday.

The incident is among the latest in an outbreak of deadly violence that’s claimed more than 150 lives across the CSRA in a little over two years.

The outbreak has affected communities large and small on both sides of the Savannah River, but as the largest city in the region, Augusta has been hit especially hard.

Authorities have blamed much of the problem on gangs.

Team coverage by News 12 staff members including Audrey Dickherber, Hallie Turner, Jada Walker, Sydney Hood, Will Rioux, Nick Proto, Zayna Haliburton, Ashley Campbell, Estelle Parsley, Aaron Wilson, Mikel Hannah-Harding, Gary Pikula, Steve Byerly and Lois White.

Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.