Augusta, GA
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.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Georgia gubernatorial candidate Geoff Duncan campaigned in Augusta ahead of Election Day, making stops at two churches and meeting with local faith leaders.
The former lieutenant governor visited Good Hope Baptist Church on Cedar Street, where he spoke with the Greater Augusta Interfaith Coalition’s “Music to the Polls” group.
Duncan told us that, if elected governor, he wants to expand Medicaid, pass what he called “common-sense gun legislation,” and create more economic opportunities statewide. He also pointed to affordability concerns impacting families and businesses.
“I want to take $1.7 billion of our state’s fund and wrap it around the axle of poverty,” Duncan said, adding that he wants to lower child care costs and improve temporary assistance programs.
Duncan also stopped at Miles Memorial Church on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
NJ apartment dwellers, renters have these options for help with rent
State and local officials say several programs are designed to help low and moderate-income households stay housed in the face of financial distress.
As rent prices continue to strain budgets, a new study is highlighting where Georgians can save the most by splitting housing costs.
According to a report from SmartAsset, some cities in Georgia offer major savings for renters who choose to live with a roommate.
Here’s what to know.
Where can you save the most in Georgia?
The study ranks Augusta as the top city in Georgia for roommate savings, and No. 6 in the country.
Renters there can save about 45% on monthly rent, or roughly $450 per month, by sharing an apartment.
Here’s how the costs compare in Augusta:
- One-bedroom rent: $1,000
- Two-bedroom rent: $1,100
- Estimated monthly savings with a roommate: $450
Why are roommate savings so high?
With rent prices rising, splitting costs has become one of the easiest ways to cut monthly expenses.
The study shows that sharing rent can significantly reduce housing costs, especially in cities where prices have climbed in recent years.
How does Georgia compare to the rest of the country?
Here’s the top 10 cities in the US for saving with a roomate:
- Cleveland, OH
- Baton Rouge, LA
- Jersey City, NJ
- Memphis, TN
- Boise, ID
- Augusta, GA
- New Haven, CT
- Chattanooga, TN
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Shreveport, LA
Methodology
The study analyzed 100 U.S. cities using rental data from March 2025 to March 2026 from Zumper, comparing one-bedroom rents to half the cost of two-bedroom apartments to estimate savings from sharing with a roommate.
For more information, visit smartasset.com/data-studies/roommate-savings-2026.
Vanessa Johns is the Trending Topics Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team Georgia. Email her at Vcountryman@gannett.com.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Families had the chance to sharpen their money skills at a financial literacy event hosted by local nonprofit Crown Her Mentoring at the Bernie Ward Community Center.
The free event offered resources for all ages, from kids learning the basics to adults planning for their financial future.
Attendees could sit in sessions about budgeting, credit, opening banking accounts and insurance options.
Organizers said the event was designed to make financial education accessible during Financial Literacy Month.
“People need to understand the importance of a checking account, a savings account—how to manage your money. How to invest your money. People need to learn about life insurance,” said Torrecka Davis, organizer.
Crown Her Mentoring will host a mental health awareness event on May 23. Open enrollment for new mentees will begin on May 10.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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