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Augusta, GA

Augusta defendant convicted in 2019 killing of elderly man

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Augusta defendant convicted in 2019 killing of elderly man


AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The killer responsible for a May 2019 murder of an elderly man was convicted at trial, according to District Attorney Jared Williams.

Defendant Samuel Brown, 63, of Augusta, was found guilty of the killing of Roosevelt “Pop” Bland.

When Pop refused to give him money for drugs and prostitutes, the defendant hit him in the head with a cast iron pan and strangled him with a cord, according to authorities.

After three days of trial, he was sentenced Wednesday afternoon by Judge Amanda Heath to life without parole.

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Assistant District Attorney Dre’Kevius Huff tried this case with the assistance of co-counsel Julian Rheams.

The two pointed out to the jury the manner of killing this elderly victim.

The defendant struck Bland in the head with the skillet, then wrapped an electrical cord around his neck nine times to strangle him, according to prosecutors.

After the murder, he stole Bland’s truck and ditched it in Brunswick before catching a bus to Jacksonville, Fla., where he would eventually turn himself in.

The day leading up to the murder, the defendant accompanied Bland to the bank and saw him withdraw money.

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Late that night, the defendant asked for cash and Bland told him no.

After the murder, the defendant used Bland’s money to buy drugs and seek the company of a prostitute, according to prosecutors.

After turning himself in to authorities, he claimed to have been in a blind rage with lost memory of the events, according to prosecutors.

Four years later, he told a new story at trial. Weeping on the stand and pretending to have love for the victim, the defendant claimed he only killed Bland because Bland pointed a gun at him.

The jury returned a verdict of guilty on malice murder and felony murder less than an hour after deliberations began.

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Bland would have turned 81 ythis week, Williams noted after the trial.

“Eighty-one years of wisdom, guidance, and love, all lost to senseless violence,” Williams said. “These killings must stop, and we will not stop until they do.”



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Augusta, GA

WATCH: Gun comes out during fight at Butler High, video shows

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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.

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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.



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Augusta, GA

Police arrest suspect in Grovetown apartment complex shooting

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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.

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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.

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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 say they responded Tuesday afternoon to Joiner Crossing Apartments in Grovetown.
Officials say they responded Tuesday afternoon to Joiner Crossing Apartments in Grovetown.(WRDW)

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.

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Sean McKenzie

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.

Butler High School, Augusta, Ga.

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.

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Authorities have blamed much of the problem on gangs.

We are working to learn more information about the incident.



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Augusta, GA

Police respond to shooting at Grovetown apartment complex

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Police respond to shooting at Grovetown apartment complex


GROVETOWN, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Law enforcement officials are on the scene of a shooting incident at an apartment complex, according to the Grovetown Police Department.

No one was killed, and the victim was a male, according to authorities.

Officials say they responded Tuesday afternoon to Joiner Crossing Apartments in Grovetown.

Police Chief Jamey Kitchens told us he was on the scene around 5:34 p.m.

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Kitchens says it appears the victim was upstairs on the balcony of the apartment and went inside after he was shot.

Several other people were inside the apartment including an infant, according to Kitchens.

He tells us two unknown males entered the apartment, went upstairs and began shooting.

Officials say they responded Tuesday afternoon to Joiner Crossing Apartments in Grovetown.(WRDW)

Through the use of local cameras and doorbell cameras, officials say they were able to see that the suspects left in a vehicle.

They have a loose vehicle description and are trying to run down leads, according to Kitchens.

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Officials say the victim is in a local hospital in surgery and does not appear to have life-threatening injuries.

Kitchens wants the community to know that there is no danger to the community and 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.

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Butler High School, Augusta, Ga.

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.



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