Augusta, GA
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.
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.
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.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
We recognize you are attempting to access this website from a country belonging to the European Economic Area (EEA) including the EU which
enforces the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and therefore access cannot be granted at this time.
For any issues, contact enews@wfxg.com or call 706-650-5400.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Democratic candidate for Georgia governor Olu Brown visited Augusta on Friday evening, stopping near the Sand Hills Community Center as early voting continues.
Brown is one of six candidates in the Democratic primary.
Campaign priorities
Brown said his vision as governor would focus on three main areas.
“One, it’s affordability around health care and making sure we expand Medicaid and expand Peach Care and make sure we continue to make our rural health care systems healthy and vital,” Brown said. “Number two, we’ve got to address education in all of Georgia, making sure every kid in Georgia gets an excellent education, and we’re paying our teachers more. And number 3, we’re protecting the rights of all women. Folks in the Gold Dome shouldn’t be making decisions about their bodies or the choices that they make.”
Brown is running against Amanda Duffy, Derrick Jackson, Geoff Duncan, Jason Esteves, Keisha Lance Bottoms and Mike Thurmond.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – An Augusta Prep student was arrested on a charge of terroristic threats over a picture of a LEGO gun he posted on social media.
It happened Wednesday, according to an incident report from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.
Eric Hedinger, the principal of Augusta Preparatory Day School, told deputies a student had uploaded a picture to Snapchat of a “pistol” with the caption “shooting up the school so I don`t have to take the stats exam tomorrow. Don`t come yall!”
The principal said he spoke to the student and his father about the photo.
The principal also provided deputies with the student’s address in Grovetown.
A deputy went there and was told by the student that the “pistol” was a LEGO set that he had built.
He also said the comment he made was supposed to be a joke because he was not looking forward to taking his Advanced Placement statistics test this week.
The student showed the deputy the box that the LEGO set came in, and how the set was already disassembled.
The deputy also looked in the boy’s room to make sure he was not in possession of any weapons.
The mother advised that there was one firearm in the residence but it was locked up.
The deputy contacted Judge Leslie Morgan and she issued a warrant for terroristic threats.
The student, age 18, was taken into custody and transported to the Columbia County Detention Center.
News 12 is not reporting his name or publishing his photo since the LEGO gun could not have actually harmed anyone.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
-
Illinois46 seconds ago20-year-old motorcyclist killed in crash in Oswego, Illinois, police say
-
Indiana7 minutes agoWhy Caitlin Clark went back to Indiana Fever locker room in season opener
-
Iowa13 minutes agoOpinion: Marathon legislative shutdown shouldn’t be repeated
-
Kansas19 minutes agoDetroit Tigers bested by Kansas City 5-1; Witt hits inside-the-park homer for Royals
-
Kentucky25 minutes agoKentucky Lottery Cash Ball, Pick 3 Evening winning numbers for May 9, 2026
-
Louisiana31 minutes agoOfficials say Louisiana’s black bear bounty could boost hunting this year
-
Maine37 minutes agoMeet Maine’s newest hot pitcher: Gorham’s Hunter Finck
-
Maryland43 minutes agoMaryland Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for May 9, 2026