Augusta, GA

‘Took a piece of me’: Family remembers 15-year-old killed in Augusta

Published

1 year ago

November 2, 2024

‘Took a piece of me’: Family remembers 15-year-old killed in Augusta

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – One of Augusta’s latest victims of gun violence was 15-year-old Devayn Grissam.

Authorities say he was shot around 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday on Helsinki Drive. He was taken to the hospital where he later died.

On Friday, Devayn’s family continues to search for a way forward as information surrounding potential suspects is limited.

“He took a piece of me. Yes, definitely. He took a piece of me, and I don’t know if I heal from it, you know,” said Telisha Grissam, Devayn’s aunt.

We sat down with Devayn’s family to see how they’re honoring his life.

15-year-old Devayn Grissam(WRDW)

Moving forward without Devayn is going to be rough for his family.

They are already thinking about how different the holiday season will be without him.

But Devayn’s family wanted to speak to us to share his story and their message to the community to put the guns down.

It’s a life cut too soon.

“We’re never going to get that. They’ll be able to see their kids grow, but we’ll never be able to see him grow and progress and what could have been so he will forever be 15 years old,” said Telisha.

Devayn loved his family, and his family loved him.

“If I knew, this would be the last time with me seeing him, I would have hugged him a little tighter. I would have talked to him a little longer. You never know when it’s the last time that you’re going to lose someone you never know. And to lose a child to gun violence is hard,” said Telisha.

The day Devayn died, his aunt says, “I remember almost falling to the floor at Walmart in North Augusta when I found out that he was killed.”

His family wants you to hear their heart-breaking plea.

“The graveyards are filling up with our children. They’re not having a chance at life, not even experience life to see what life is about. At 15 years old, you don’t know what life is about,” said Telisha.

Devayn’s family doesn’t want another family to feel their unbearable pain.

“Right now, what they have done is put this family up on a lot of stress, because now we got to worry about how we are going to bury this 15-year-old kid because this is so unexpected,” said Telisha.

Deputies investigate suspicious death after finding victim on Lumpkin Road

Together, his family chooses to remember Devayn for the life he lived.

“He loved to play basketball. He loved to do flips like gymnastics. He was flipping all the time. He was a practical joker. Every time you see him, he always jokes about having fun,” said his aunt.

In their eyes, he is 15 forever.

“I speak on behalf of his father, his mother, his grandmother. I speak on behalf of my family. This is some pain that we’re going to endure for the rest of our lives,” said Telisha.

So far, no arrests have been made in Devayn’s death.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta Boxing Club faces financial uncertainty after nonprofit funding cuts

Published

5 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Augusta Boxing Club faces financial uncertainty after nonprofit funding cuts

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Augusta Boxing Club is facing financial uncertainty after Richmond County’s 2026 budget left no room to fund nonprofit organizations.

The county’s decision removes one of the club’s main financial supporters, leaving the historic organization without a key source of funding.

The Augusta Boxing Club is one of the nation’s longest-running amateur boxing clubs and has served at-risk youth in the Augusta area.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta picks new planning and development director

Published

18 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Augusta picks new planning and development director

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta-Richmond County has selected a new planning and development director nearly a year after the previous director resigned.

Commissioners voted to hire Adleasia J. Cameron, who goes by Lisa, after an executive session Tuesday.

Cameron was one of two finalists for the position, along with Ryan A. Bland.

The position has been vacant since May 30, when Carla Delaney resigned as planning and development director.

“Augusta has been home to me for many years, from my time as a middle and high school student to earning my graduate degree. It has truly been a privilege to work here and contribute to the community’s growth, sustainability, and development,” Delaney wrote in her letter of resignation.

Cameron is expected to start within the next 30 days.

Her salary will be $125,000, with a moving allowance of up to $10,000 reimbursed based on receipts.

Other commission action

Commissioners also received an update that a veterans cemetery will break ground at the end of the year.

A motion passed authorizing the Marshal’s Office to purchase two vehicles at a cost of more than $115,000.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta family flees Middle East as U.S. launches Operation Epic Fury

Published

1 day ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

Augusta family flees Middle East as U.S. launches Operation Epic Fury

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – An Augusta couple returned home from Israel and Egypt just as the U.S. and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury Saturday.

This happened hours before the State Department issued an urgent warning urging Americans in 14 Middle Eastern countries to “depart now” due to “serious safety risks.”

Diego and Maile Sprague had been staying with a host family in Jerusalem, south of the West Bank. The host family provides self-defense training to women and children living in the West Bank.

“We moved to Jerusalem just south of the West Bank and stayed with a host family that provides self-defense training to women and children that live on the West Bank,” Maile Sprague said. “Sometimes those places aren’t the safest.”

Couple tours Egypt as operation launches

The Spragues left their host family Friday morning to tour Egypt. By Saturday morning, the U.S. and Israel had rolled out Operation Epic Fury.

The couple said their host family was forced to flee their home after two nearby Arab-developed areas were attacked.

“We got word he and his wife had to leave their home because where they live there are two Arab developed areas… and they were attacked, so he and his wife had to flee their home,” Diego Sprague said.

Maile Sprague said the host family is now sheltering with neighbors.

“They are staying in their bomb shelter because there has been constant red alerts, so they’re sharing their bomb shelter with their neighbors,” she said.

Tourism industry shuts down in Egypt

While in Egypt, the Spragues said they witnessed the country’s tourism industry — its largest — coming to a halt.

“Everything that has to do with the tourism industry was closing down. Tourists were trying to leave, and all the buses were being routed to the border for Israel to pick people up from,” Maile Sprague said.

The couple had planned to return to their host family in Israel but instead made the decision to return home to Augusta. They landed in Atlanta hours before the State Department issued its “depart now” warning Monday.

The Spragues said they are safe. Their host family remains in a bomb shelter.

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