Augusta Mall shooting sends fear, anger through shoppers

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A shooting sent people scrambling out the doors of the Augusta Mall on Thursday afternoon. 

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office says deputies responded to the scene of shots fired with one person down at the Augusta Mall.

Dispatch says the first call came in at 3:38 p.m. to 3450 Wrightsboro Road on the Fourth of July.

Upon arrival, deputies located one male who had been shot at least once.

The man was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to officials.

On scene, News 12 saw floods of people running out of the mall and a lot of frustration from shoppers looking for holiday deals. 

It’s a situation many say is unforgettable, but unfortunately not surprising. 

Rochelle Giet says what seemed to be a typical Fourth of July at the mall quickly turned south. 

“I saw people running and screaming already. There are a lot of people running, going to the food court screaming,” said Giet. 

Giet says she and 20 other people in Victoria’s Secret had to hide in a storage closet for more than 40 minutes.  

She says that moment was an unfortunate wake-up call for her. 

“I cannot imagine that. Fourth of July. You want to go somewhere because there’s a lot of sales stuff like that. And you are not safe anymore,” said Giet. 

This incident is a similar situation that happened back in April with shots fired and a fatal shooting at the mall in 2020.  

Giet says she wishes she doesn’t have to be on high alert while shopping but she has no choice. 

“It’s always taped to my mind. It comes to my mind or maybe there is a shooting here again and again,” she said. 

It’s a feeling Giet says she hopes more people pay attention to in the future. 

“I hope that the security personnel there will be more tightened for their security and especially for keeping the people going inside the mall,” said Giet. 

News 12 started receiving calls about the incident around 3:45 p.m.

Central EMS and the Augusta Fire Department also responded to the scene.

Around 4:10 p.m., several people were seen leaving the mall. Deputies were seen getting brown evidence bags out of their patrol cars.

“It all happened so fast and quickly as I was headed towards Dick’s Sporting Goods,” said a woman who was on scene. “What got me was that they didn’t even evacuate until like 30 to 45 minutes later. Only could imagine how many people did or could have gotten hurt.”

A store manager tells us that several of her employees heard the gunshots. She said she has a plan in place for when incidents like this happen.

She says her store is losing employees over these situations that seem to happen more frequently at the mall.

Officials did not release any information regarding possible suspects.

Team coverage by News 12 staff members including Lois White, Destiny Bernash, William Rioux, Brionna Law, Julius Evans, Gary Pikula, Richard Rogers, Riley Hale and Sarah Lusk.

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