MILLEN, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – We’re learning a candidate for Jenkins County tax commissioner has been indicted for murder and other charges.

In addition to murder, Shenice Thompson is accused of aggravated assault, possession of a firearm, making a false statement, hindering the apprehension or punishment of a criminal and tampering with evidence.

Tyrell Brown and Maxine Jones were shot to death in March, and authorities believe Thompson made a false statement in a homicide investigation and said she was at her mother’s house when the shooting happened.

News 12 spoke with Jones’ daughter, Deeari Grier, about her feelings and thoughts on her mother’s case.

“That day I was so numb to everything. I was shocked, and it just felt so unreal,” said Grier.

Grier was only a five-minute drive away from where her mother was killed.

Yet hours before that, it was a normal day.

“She came by my job and she was just talking to me and telling me that she was bored and didn’t have nothing to do,” said Grier.

But little did Grier know this was one of the last conversations she would have with her mom.

“I called her but she wasn’t answering,” said Grier.

It’s a night Grier says she’ll never forget.

“At first I didn’t believe she was gone but once everything happened, I just knew she was gone,” said Grier.

Now, four months later, the alleged suspect in the shooting is running for Jenkins County tax commissioner position.

“Trying to run for something that’s just crazy,” said Grier.

They also believe Thompson knew Raheem Whitfield committed aggravated assault and harbored him and concealed the gun.

She was indicted Monday.

Sheriff Robert Oglesby said Wednesday afternoon she was not yet in custody.

Whitfield, of Waynesboro, has already been arrested in connection with the March murder.

Brown, 28, of Garfield, and Jones, 48, of Millen, were shot dead just before 1:45 a.m. March 24 at the Annie P. Chance Veterans Center on Acorn Avenue, according to authorities.

After being notified of the shooting, law enforcement arrived and found Jones dead with a gunshot wound. Although Jones had no immediate signs of trauma, she was pronounced dead at the scene, as well, according to GBI.

A later investigation revealed a gunshot wound to her chest, according to Jenkins County Coroner Henry Young.

“They took a mother of eight kids, and her kids won’t be able to see her no more and it just feel so unreal,” said Grier.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – After nine years of improvements, Augusta University President Dr. Brooks Keel is just days away from retirement.

He’s seen improvements like an increase in enrollment every year since 2015 and seeing thousands of students graduate.

The board of regents is set to vote Friday to decide if the sole finalist, Dr. Russell Keen, will take over the role.

Before saying goodbye to the university, Dr. Keel sat down for one final interview.

His last day is June 28.

He says the achievements over the last nine years are ones he didn’t do alone.

While it’s definitely a bittersweet moment, he says he’s truly in the “sweet spot.”

“I always wanted to retire on my own terms,” said Keel.

After spending 40 years in research and higher education administration, Keel says it’s time he “cut the cord.”

“People have asked me, are you gonna consult or whatever? Why would I want to quit the best job in the world just to do another job? So we’re giving it all up and hitting the (Florida) Keys and start starting fresh,” said Keel.

With his eyes set on the retirement state, he can’t help but reflect on the last nine years as the leader of the Jaguar pack.

“We broke the 10,000 students glass ceiling — 10,546. We had like a seven or eight percent increase in enrollment this past fall versus the fall before that, and a 27% increase in enrollment since 2015. One of the most exciting things is that greater than 50% of our freshman class comes from outside of the CSRA,” said Keel.

And he’s counting down the days until he passes the torch.

“So right now we have 18 days, seven hours, seven minutes and four seconds,” said Keel.

After June 28, the only place you’ll be able to catch him is the water.

“We want to be able to spend as much time as we can, either in the water or on top of the water. Tammy is an avid scuba diver,” said Keel.

He’s sailing into the next chapter, without a cell phone controlling his schedule.

“I have taken up saltwater fly fishing several years ago. So we have a house where we can get in the boat go either up to the Gulf or out to the Atlantic and, be able to fish, dive, and catch your own dinner, those sorts of things,” said Keel.

News 12 got to meet Dr. Russell Keen on Wednesday as we walked out of Keel’s office. While they do not want to jump to conclusions just yet, they are both very confident and excited about the future of AU.

If voted in, Keel says he can’t think of anyone more qualified for the job than Keen.

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