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Augusta, GA

Business owners to air homeless concerns near I-20, Washington Road

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Business owners to air homeless concerns near I-20, Washington Road


AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Washington Road and Interstate 20 area is well-known as a central area for those experiencing homelessness.

On Tuesday evening, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office is holding an open discussion on the corridor and any potential issues it is causing in the area.

Business managers on Washington Road told News 12 Tuesday that it’s common for homeless people to walk around and gather in the area.

It’s something that businesses say has been happening for awhile.

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“There’s a lot but we don’t let them stay here,” said Normita Ladomira, store clerk at Raceway.

People are walking the streets of Washington Road and some even ask for money, according to Normita.

We talked to staff members of at least seven different hotels off Washington Road, and many of them told us they’d be attending the meeting to discuss the issues at hand.

Some hotels told us this is hurting business. But despite this causing issues, some are trying to help.

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“I give them food, not alcohol. When I have some, just to help those who are a little hungry, okay. I get it on my own, like gifts. But not every day, I got a big family too,” said Ladomira.

A meeting to address the issue was held at the Warren Road Community Center at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

The goal is to start a “proactive strategy” for the area, according to deputies.

We asked Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree if this would be the solution to the problem. He said, “I feel like this is a good start. Because right now we’re spinning our wheels, not just in Richmond County but throughout the country. We’re spinning our wheels because no one has a solid solution to the homeless problem.”

Among the objectives is to get permission from property owners for deputies to remove unauthorized property and temporary structures and remove people from parking areas where they have no business. The agency said it intends to get help from courts to address the constitutional rights of the property owner as well as anyone removed.

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“I think I encourage business owners to sign up and I encourage business owners to hold the sheriff accountable for what he’s agreed to do,” Kelley Mobley says. Mobley’s mother-in-law has a business on Washington Road.

“I’m a little torn. I do think it’s more than past time for partnership between the citizens and Augusta. Interested to see what will come of it,” said Mobley.

Washington Road and I-20 may be one of Augusta’s best-known intersections. Here’ a view from above.

It’s not looking to arrest, but give homeless resources.

“We’re not trying to criminalize you for being poor or having mental health issues. But again, we have to protect property owners and the citizens of Richmond County, so that’s the duality row that we have at the sheriff’s office,” said Roundtree.

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Mobley says the homelessness in this area bring a spike in crime, impacting more than just business owners.

“The majority of these folks are committing crimes,” she said. “It’s not just about business owners, partnering with him. It’s about getting out and doing what needs to be done in public spaces in the community, and that’s not being done.”

The sheriff’s office will look at how many businesses have signed on at the end of the week and start as early as Monday.

If you are a business owner and were not at the meeting Tuesday night, you can pickup the paperwork at the sheriff’s office.

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Augusta, GA

2 young males dead after boat overturns in Screven County

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2 young males dead after boat overturns in Screven County


SYLVANIA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Two young males are dead after their boat overturned while fishing, according to the Screven County Sheriff’s Office.

According to a press release, around 12:45 p.m. on Wednesday, emergency services received a call about a boat overturning in a pond off Poor Robin Road.

Upon arrival, deputies spoke with a young adult male who was located at the scene. The male reported he had been in a boat with two other young males fishing when their boat overturned.

The young male was treated for his injuries and released, according to officials.

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Additional agencies arrived on the scene including the Screven County Marine Rescue Squadron and several local scuba divers.

“After an extensive 5-hour search, in 46-degree water, the bodies of the remaining two young males were located in the pond,” said Sheriff Norman Royal.

The investigation into the circumstances that led up to these deaths is still ongoing, but no foul play is suspected at this time, according to officials.

Screven County EMS, Screven County Fire, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Effingham County Fire and Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office, also assisted in the response.

Sheriff Royal sends his thoughts and prayers to the families of these two young men and thanks all agencies that assisted and made their recovery possible.

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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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