Augusta, GA
Augusta Commission puts Suz Lounge on 6 months of probation
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – At the urging of the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, the Augusta Commission on Tuesday approved six months of probation for a local bar.
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office submitted a request for Suz Lounge on Deans Bridge Road to be put on probation for multiple licenses.
In a letter from the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, deputies describe an incident at 4:30 a.m. May 12 when a female patron rammed cars, shots were fired and eventually someone was killed.
The commission approved probation for owner Samantha Moses’ business, dance and alcohol licenses.
“I just ask that probation be granted and to give me an opportunity to fix the problem,” said Moses.
A make shift boxing ring, slamming into cars and a deadly shootout. It all happened the same night of May 12, detailed in a letter from the sheriff’s office recommending action.
Detective Ortiz with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office weighed in, “Shooting happened at 4 o’clock in the morning, club was letting out at 4 o’clock in the morning, they should’ve been closed well past that. There was gambling inside the club, and we got that from their own footage.”
The business owner says she wants a second chance.
Mayor Garnett Johnson agreed saying, “She’s the one who gladly recommended the six-month probation, so I applauded her for that effort for taking ownership of it.”
But the conversation turned to monitoring the outside of businesses like Suz Lounge.
Since 2018, deputies have nine incident reports on file for this address, mainly having to do with car break-ins or theft in the parking lot.
District 1 Commissioner Jordan Johnson said, “You have places like the Get-N-Go on Wrightsboro Road, just had a couple of killings there, you have the pack-n-go on Olive Road where they sell drugs and have shootouts outside.”
While the sheriff’s office says monitoring the outside is tricky, Suz Lounge now has an extra set of eyes on them.
Owner Samantha Moses finished, “I made the mistake of letting someone, me not being there all the time because I have a full-time job, and trusting someone to do my business for me. I’m in the process of rectifying all of those problems at this moment.”
News 12 tried to reach out to the owner and Detective Ortiz to find out who was in charge of the bar the night of the shooting and whether they’re still employed or facing any charges, but both had no comment.
If the probation is broken, the licenses will be taken away.
The probation was among many things on a busy agenda during Tuesday’s meeting, which started later than usual because of a visit to the city by first lady Jill Biden. Mayor Garnett Johnson was one of her hosts as she visited Augusta Technical College.
In other business
- The commission also approved a number of electronic security enhancements downtown to help detect crime and catch criminals. They include about 15 surveillance cameras at various locations, as well as five microphones. The microphones will help detect gunshots.
- The commission approved a concept plan for Big Oak Park and continue with the preliminary and final design process.
- Leaders approved a memorandum of understanding for a partnership with Augusta and CSRA Habitat for Humanity for three years to build three to five homes.
- The commission approved funding of $50,000 over five years for the Junior Achievement Discovery Center to be shared by the Richmond County and Columbia County school districts.
Copyright 2023 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
2 young males dead after boat overturns in Screven County
SYLVANIA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Two young males are dead after their boat overturned while fishing, according to the Screven County Sheriff’s Office.
According to a press release, around 12:45 p.m. on Wednesday, emergency services received a call about a boat overturning in a pond off Poor Robin Road.
Upon arrival, deputies spoke with a young adult male who was located at the scene. The male reported he had been in a boat with two other young males fishing when their boat overturned.
The young male was treated for his injuries and released, according to officials.
Additional agencies arrived on the scene including the Screven County Marine Rescue Squadron and several local scuba divers.
“After an extensive 5-hour search, in 46-degree water, the bodies of the remaining two young males were located in the pond,” said Sheriff Norman Royal.
The investigation into the circumstances that led up to these deaths is still ongoing, but no foul play is suspected at this time, according to officials.
Screven County EMS, Screven County Fire, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Effingham County Fire and Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office, also assisted in the response.
Sheriff Royal sends his thoughts and prayers to the families of these two young men and thanks all agencies that assisted and made their recovery possible.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
WATCH: Gun comes out during fight at Butler High, video shows
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A weapon was seized by school administrators after the apparent gun fell to the floor during a fight between students Tuesday at Butler High School.
Parents were told of the incident in a letter.
“Two students engaged in a fight in a classroom today during a class,” the letter stated. “During the altercation, students saw a weapon drop to the floor.”
The Richmond County School System didn’t address what kind of weapon it was, but a video on Facebook showed what appeared to be a gun.
Administrators and Richmond County School System police responded immediately and secured the school for about 45 minutes while police investigated, parents were told.
The student was taken into custody and the incident was addressed following the Code of Student Conduct and Discipline.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
Police arrest suspect in Grovetown apartment complex shooting
GROVETOWN, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A suspect has been arrested in connection to an apartment complex shooting in Grovetown, officials announced Wednesday morning.
Isaiah Bautista, 20, of Augusta, was located near Windsor Spring Road and Meadowbrook Drive, still riding in the suspect vehicle that was observed fleeing the scene of the earlier shooting, Grovetown Police Department says.
Bautista had a firearm at the time of his arrest and had multiple outstanding felony warrants through both Richmond County and Reidsville, Ga., police say.
Bautista was transported to the Charles B. Webster Detention Center on the outstanding warrants. Additional warrants will be secured by Grovetown Investigators for his charges regarding tonight’s shooting.
This investigation continues as investigators are working to identify the second suspect.
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office assisted in apprehending Bautista.
The Grovetown Police Department says they received a 911 call Tuesday at 5:02 p.m. about a shooting at the 1000 block of Joiner Circle in Joiner Crossing Apartments in Grovetown.
Police Chief Jamey Kitchens told us he was on the scene around 5:34 p.m.
When officers arrived they discovered a male victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the upper chest.
Officials say the victim was conscious when they arrived and is in a local hospital in surgery. He does not appear to have life-threatening injuries.
He tells us two unknown males entered the apartment, and one of the suspects fired several rounds hitting the victim once.
Officials used local cameras and doorbell cameras to capture the suspects fleeing on foot to a nearby vehicle and exiting the complex.
One of the suspects was wearing a mask and both were wearing dark-colored hoodies.
Multiple people were in the home at the time, including an infant who was within a few feet of the victim when he was shot. No other parties were injured.
They have a loose vehicle description and several leads are being pursued, according to Kitchens.
The victim was not a resident of the home where the incident occurred.
Kitchens wants the community to know that there is no danger to the community and that this appears to be a targeted attack.
A witness said she saw 17 police cars on the scene around 6 p.m. and that it appeared officers were searching up and down some nearby railroad tracks.
Police were clustered around one apartment in particular. The door was open and crime scene tape hung outside the entry.
Around 6:30 p.m., police brought out a child car seat and a diaper bag. The significance of those items wasn’t clear.
The incident comes amid an outbreak of violent crime that’s claimed about 200 lives in nearly three years across the CSRA.
The crime outbreak has affected communities large and small, but as the biggest city in the region, Augusta has been hit especially hard.
Authorities have blamed much of the problem on gangs.
We are working to learn more information about the incident.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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