Augusta, GA

Augusta Mall shooting: Terrified customers hide in dressing rooms

Published

2 years ago

April 28, 2024

Augusta Mall shooting: Terrified customers hide in dressing rooms

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Richmond County Sheriff’s Office deputies rushed to Augusta Mall after reports of gunshots there.

Dispatchers say the initial report came in at 1:43 p.m. Sunday.

The sheriff’s office said deputies learned the shooting happened in Dillard’s.

Upon arrival, deputies were informed the suspect had fled the scene and the victim had left, too.

Deputies later learned the victim had driven themselves to a local hospital for treatment.

A report of gunfire shut down Augusta Mall on April 28, 2024.(wrdw)

The mall was closed and will remain closed until Monday, when it will resume normal business hours.

Sheriff’s Lt. Robbie Silas termed it an isolated incident and said investigators are actively looking for the suspect.

People at the mall told News 12 they hid inside dressing rooms at a department store once they heard gunfire.

At the scene, we saw eight Richmond County Sheriff’s Office vehicles and two Central EMS ambulances with lights flashing and no activity.

It’s not the first time shots have been fired at the mall.

On Oct. 3 2022, one person was killed in a shooting at the mall. Tony Rodrequez Burton, of Augusta, was found guilty in October 2023 of two counts of voluntary manslaughter and possession of a firearm during commission of a felony,

The shooting also prompted a lawsuit by an employee who claimed the mall failed to keep the premises safe.

In June 2022, someone displayed a gun during an altercation in the food court. No shots were fired, and no one was injured.

A report of gunfire shut down Augusta Mall on April 28, 2024.(wrdw)

Sunday’s incident comes amid an outbreak of violent crimes that’s claimed more than 150 lives across the CSRA in two years. It’s affected communities large and small on both sides of the Savannah River. But as the largest city in the region, Augusta has been hit especially hard.

Authorities have blamed much of the problem on gangs, and many of the victims as well as the suspects have been young men.

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Augusta, GA

Local group holds 4th annual walk against autism

Published

4 hours ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

Local group holds 4th annual walk against autism

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – April is Autism Awareness Month, and one local group raised awareness with a walk in Augusta on Sunday.

The fourth annual autism walk was hosted by Moving Over Mountains Against autism at Lake Olmstead Park.

All proceeds from the walk support autism awareness initiatives.

We spoke with the CEO and founder of the group, Deidre Roberson, who said this year they are dedicating the walk to their photographer, who died recently.

Roberson told us what she looks forward to the most.

“I look most forward to seeing the different people every year. We always meet different people, new people, and they come from all over the CSRA, so Washington, Wilkes, Carolina,” she said.

There were also several vendors providing resources to families.

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Augusta, GA

From Augusta roots to Nighthawks leader: Nolan Belcher comes home

Published

16 hours ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

From Augusta roots to Nighthawks leader: Nolan Belcher comes home

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF)- Augusta University baseball is in a three-game series matchup against the University of North Georgia.

AU is currently down in the series 0-2 after a close loss Friday and a loss Saturday.

But we aren’t focusing on the Jags, we’re going to take a look at North Georgia’s head coach, Nolan Belcher.

He is an Augusta native who began his career at Greenbrier and Augusta Christian.

He won three state championships, which then led him to play for the South Carolina Gamecocks.

There he won back-to-back national championships and finished runner up in 2012.

His coaching career began after that where he eventually joined the Peach belt Confrence, coaching at USCA and GCSU.

Now in his first season as head coach for the Nighthawks, he is happy to come home and coach in front of his friends and family.

“I’m very fortunate that I got family that, one is still around and they can come watch me do what I love. And, they’ve shown me, nothing but support throughout my whole coaching career and even back on my playing dates are very thankful and appreciative for everything they’ve done for me.”

AU and UNG will have their final series match on Sunday.

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