Augusta, GA

Community members honor shooting victims with prayer vigils

Published

2 years ago

May 7, 2024

Community members honor shooting victims with prayer vigils

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Community members are coming together to pray for Augusta’s latest shooting victims.

The Richmond County coroner says 22-year-old Jaleen Sumpter died Sunday night on C Street in Olmstead Homes and another person was taken to the hospital after being shot in the leg.

And just last week, 14-year-old Anthony Harrison died in a shooting at the Cedarwood Apartments.

Violence has impacted too many people in our area, taking loved ones and turning lives upside down.

Now, people in our community say it’s time for a change.

Two shootings in one week add to the violent outbreak of crime that’s taken over 150 lives in the last two years.

“We had the first killing in Cedarwood and when that happened, I said, ‘Okay, God, let’s go.’ And I called the troops. I called some men of God and women of God who really, I know care about the community. Because we got hearts for the people, you want to bring people around and get people involved who care,” said Terrell Lynn, who held the prayer vigils.

He says it’s time for a change, after the shooting at Cedarwood Apartments they gathered, praying for violence to end.

“It’s very important for these young people to see somebody from where they’re from, did the same thing that they were doing, that made it out and telling them that, hey, it’s better for you that this is not the end,” he said.

But another shooting took place at Olmstead Homes, bringing them back together and praying for the community.

“There are many that are responded to be mentors and to be established in these communities. And this isn’t just, I’m gonna pray and that’s it, we’re gonna pray, we’re gonna get a presence out here. We’re going to talk to the community, talk with the kids, work with the kids. This is not a one-time thing,” said Lynn.

They say it’s time for the community to step up.

“I invite anybody, anybody from your community, any man who wants to come and say, ‘Hey, I’m not gonna let this happen in my city, I’m not just gonna be here, sit here and let this happen without doing anything.’ I invite you to come out here and take a stand,” he said.

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Augusta, GA

From Augusta roots to Nighthawks leader: Nolan Belcher comes home

Published

6 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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