Augusta, GA
Murder suspect arrested after SWAT team surrounds Augusta home
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – We’re learning new details after authorities apprehended a murder suspect who was holed up for a time in a south Augusta home.
Deputies said the murder case was out of New York, and the suspect was being sought by the U.S. Marshals Service.
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO) SWAT team and the U.S. Marshals Service surrounded the home in the 2500 block of Smoketree Road.
A Richmond County Sheriff’s Office negotiator, the K-9 unit and the drone response team responded.
Central EMS and Augusta Fire Department personnel staged nearby in accordance with safety protocols, according to the sheriff’s office.
Upon arrival, deputies confirmed that at least two people were inside the home: an adult male and an adult female.
Officials say the female initially exited the home but, upon observing uniformed officers, was instructed to approach them. Instead, she returned inside against law enforcement orders.
Deputies secured the perimeter and advised nearby residents of the situation, requesting that some leave the immediate area for their safety.
An RCSO drone was deployed to monitor the scene and ensure situational awareness, and the roadway was blocked to prevent anyone from entering the potentially dangerous area, the agency says.
No one was injured, but it was tense leading up to the arrests, according to Richmond County Sheriff’s Office Chief Lewis Blanchard.
“We cleared all of the houses in the immediate area, we had a drone go up so we could deploy and make sure we could see all around in every area in case children are coming from school buses or anything like that, we had personnel … making sure nobody was allowed to come into the scene,” he said.
Snipers were also positioned on roofs around the area to assist in the operation.
According to the sheriff’s office, after around 45 minutes of communication, the female agreed to exit the home with her hands up. The male suspect followed close behind.
The male suspect, identified as Tyleek Estella, was taken into custody on warrants from another jurisdiction being served by the U.S. Marshals Service, according to the sheriff’s office.
The female was charged with misdemeanor obstruction of a law enforcement officer for failing to follow lawful verbal commands, the agency says.
Copyright 2026 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.
-
Rhode Island4 minutes ago
RI Lottery Powerball, Numbers Midday winning numbers for May 9, 2026
-
South-Carolina10 minutes agoSouth Carolina Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for May 9, 2026
-
South Dakota16 minutes ago
SD Lottery Powerball, Lotto America winning numbers for May 9, 2026
-
Tennessee22 minutes agoReport suggests Tennessee middle class income grew 18% in 10 years
-
Texas28 minutes agoCruise ship linked to hantavirus outbreak heads to Spain
-
Utah34 minutes agoThree motorcycles crash on Trapper’s Loop in northern Utah
-
Vermont40 minutes ago
VT Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for May 9, 2026
-
Virginia46 minutes agoDing! Ding! Virginia Beach trolley season kicks off May 10