Augusta, GA

Career shoplifter may not survive power pole wreck on Columbia Road

Published

12 months ago

May 12, 2023

Career shoplifter may not survive power pole wreck on Columbia Road

A “career criminal” is fighting for his life after stealing crab legs from the Martinez Kroger, threatening to shoot workers and then wrecking Wednesday during a high-speed chase.

Morris Morgan Jr., 54, of Augusta, was listed Thursday in critical condition at Augusta University Medical Center after the unrestrained suspect crashed into a power pole the day before.

Since 1990, Morgan has spent a dozen stints in Georgia prison for a series of seven shopliftings, three obstruction offenses and drug and theft convictions in Chatham County. He was last released in 2021 after a year in prison for shoplifting. (Story continues below.)

At the time of this week’s shoplifting, he was wanted for crimes in Richmond and Chatham counties, and he was using his cousin’s car despite a suspended license.

On Wednesday afternoon, Morgan allegedly filled a grocery cart with $300 in crab legs, steaks, paper towels and Kool-Aid and then tried to ring up only a few dollars in Kool-Aid packets at self-checkout, authorities said. Workers confronted the felon, and he told them to back away and threatened to shoot them.

A subsequent chase reached speeds of 60-80 mph and ended in a violent and fiery crash at Columbia and Washington roads around 3 p.m., authorities said. That is when he struck a Nissan Sentra and left the roadway, striking a concrete power pole.

The Columbia County deputy who led the chase saved Morgan from the vehicle after it caught fire, scratching himself on the broken windshield at the same time. No one else was injured.

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Augusta, GA

Program bridges gap for cybersecurity in Augusta, statewide

Published

2 hours ago

May 1, 2024

Press Room

Program bridges gap for cybersecurity in Augusta, statewide

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The first-of-its-kind, state-wide agreement is giving cybersecurity students a chance to excel in the workforce.

Augusta University and the Technical College System of Georgia signed an agreement on Wednesday in Atlanta.

Now, students at any technical college in Georgia who earn an associate degree in cybersecurity can seamlessly transition into AU’s Bachelor of Science in their cyber security program.

Officials say this will help with the shortage of cybersecurity professionals.

“It is a very important milestone event because nationally, we have a tremendous shortage of cybersecurity professionals. According to some estimates, we have more than half a million open positions that are not filled,” said Alexander Schwarzmann, Dean of Computer and Cyber Sciences at Augusta University.

The program covers 22 technical colleges in Georgia.

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Augusta, GA

Separate crashes cause traffic in Augusta; at least 1 injured

Published

9 hours ago

May 1, 2024

Press Room

Separate crashes cause traffic in Augusta; at least 1 injured

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A crash caused unknown injuries on Jones Street in downtown Augusta on Wednesday morning, according to authorities.

Dispatch says the call came in at 8:12 a.m. for a two vehicle crash on Jones Street and St. Sebastian Way in downtown Augusta.

Officials say they don’t know at this time if anyone has been injured.

We were on the scene at 8:51 a.m.

Deputies were still on the scene as of 9:10 a.m., dispatch says they are unsure if any lanes are closed.

We have reached out to learn more about the accident.

Early Tuesday morning, one person was injured after a two-vehicle crash on Gordon Highway, according to authorities.

Richmond County dispatch says the call came in at 5:09 a.m. for a crash on Gordon Highway and Timber Creek Lane.

1 injured after early morning crash on Gordon Highway(WRDW/WAGT)

Dispatch says one person was injured, but the severity of the injuries is unknown.

They were still on the scene as of 6:15 a.m. and no lanes were blocked.

Dispatch says they cleared the scene just before we arrived around 6:30 a.m.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta Christian baseball, North Augusta softball shine playoff debuts

Published

16 hours ago

May 1, 2024

Press Room

Augusta Christian baseball, North Augusta softball shine playoff debuts

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – It’s playoff time, which means it’s time for the rubber to meet the road for all of the teams who carry championship expectations with them.

The defending state champion Augusta Christian baseball team is coming off their first state title since 2007, and they had themselves a ball game against Ben Lippen in the first round.

Santiago Pacheco was in his bag, throwing a complete game shutout.

He led the Lions to victory, 1-0.

“Santiago pitched a heck of a game, you can’t say enough about him and what he did tonight. He led this team, and you know, Malachi Duncan coming up with a big hit there late in the game, but it’s just playoff baseball. Survive and advance, you win them 10 to nothing or one to nothing it doesn’t matter, you just have to win,” said Head Coach Austin Robinson.

Augusta Christian has home-field advantage throughout the state playoffs and they’ll be back in action on Friday.

IN NORTH AUGUSTA…

The North Augusta softball team won their region title once again this year.

The Lady Jackets went head-to-head with Pickens in the first round.

The game was close for most of the way, but a big-time home run in the bottom of the fourth by senior Jordan Wiley helped power the Lady Jackets to an 11-3 win.

OTHER TUESDAY NIGHT SCORES: