AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A man has been arrested after a brief altercation turned into a shooting and chase on Whitney Court, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office announced Tuesday.

On Aug. 7, around 4:31 p.m. deputies responded to Whitney Court in reference to an aggravated assault.

When deputies arrived they say they met with Christopher Miller, 43, who told them he shot back at the suspects after they shot at him.

Miller was detained, and then stated he misunderstood and did not return fire, deputies say.

He then told deputies that there had been someone breaking into cars and causing issues in the neighborhood.

Miller says the possible suspects could be someone who also lives on the street, deputies say.

When the suspect was pulling out of the driveway, Miller told deputies he yelled “What are you looking at?”

Miller walked up to the suspect who then displayed a semi-automatic handgun, according to authorities. Miller says he then returned home.

Shortly after, Miller told deputies he left to go to the store, but at the end of the block, the suspect was waiting and began shooting at him, according to authorities.

Miller stated he then began chasing the suspect’s vehicle and was attempting to crash the vehicle, deputies say.

After a brief chase, Miller lost sight of the suspect and returned home. He also told deputies he noticed two bullet holes in the front of his vehicle.

Miller was arrested on Aug. 7 and charged with two counts of aggravated assault and four counts of possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime, according to jail records.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Just three days into the school year, a gun was found on an Augusta high school student, according to the Richmond County School System.

It comes after a school year when a gun was found on a Richmond County campus nearly every month.

The latest incident happened Friday at Butler High School, according to a letter to parents.

Administrators received a report that a student may have a weapon. Administration and Richmond County School System police conducted a search, and a handgun was found and confiscated, parents were told.

The incident was addressed by school district police and the code of student conduct, according to the letter.

High school students started the school year Tuesday.

In other incidents in the past week at local schools:

• The McCormick County School District went on lockdown and canceled all after-school activities Monday due to a threat. Students were released early and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division swept the buildings.
• Parents were told that Grovetown Elementary in Columbia County had some first responders at the school Monday, but instruction wasn’t interrupted.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Augusta Animal Shelter is hoping to bring down its euthanasia rate.

Last year, state numbers said Augusta Animal Services euthanized almost 1,500 dogs, ranking the worst in the state.

Now, every Monday, the shelter is offering a new program — all pitbull adoptions are free and all adopters also get a free pet bed.

The shelter is also open for an extra two hours.

As of June, Augusta Animal Services has the highest kill rate of any shelter in the state.

On July 17, Director James Hill presented a five-part plan aimed at decreasing those numbers.

‘Save a Pet Monday’ is a part of that plan.

“To have a focus on getting animals out, getting dogs out, getting cats out, and not having to focus have so many resources allocated to taking animals in,” said Hill.

Last week was the first Save a Pet Monday. Hill says the storm put a damper on things.

“We’re hoping to ramp things up. You know, as the weeks go by,” he said.

Other steps include the pet owner’s responsibility when it comes to surrendering animals.

“They have to provide us with at least two forms of documentation showing they have tried other avenues of rescue,” said Hill.

They also encourage microchipping.

If your animal is lost and picked up by the shelter, you can now pay ten dollars to get the animal microchipped rather than the more expensive impound fee.

The shelter also plans to partner with Parks and Rec to put out banners out for missing pets.

But Hill says what they need most is help from community vets.

“They’re the critical components that are going to be pivotal in, you know, getting these numbers down, which is going to result in less euthanasia,” he said.

Hill says the community vets are so important because they provide low-cost animal services.

The last step of the shelter’s plan is to mobilize their adoption van.

It’s back in the shop and he doesn’t have an exact date for when it will be ready.

To learn more about how you can adopt, visit the Augusta Animal Services’ website or their Facebook page.

They’re open on Mondays from 12 p.m. until 7 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays from 12 p.m. until 5 p.m. They are closed on Sundays.

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