Augusta, GA
Storm leaves debris across CSRA; more high winds may be ahead
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Residents cleaned up broken tree limbs and other debris on Friday, the day after a severe storm moved through the CSRA with high wind and heavy rain.
“We thought a tornado was coming through,” said Thomas, a homeowner in Richmond County.
And it may not be over yet.
“I looked up and the tree was blowing like crazy,” said Thomas.
The storm caused a lot of damage. A tree fell on his home but his neighborhood wasn’t the only area affected.
“The wind was blowing real hard. And then I heard a chainsaw running and I came out on the front porch and police cars were here and lights were flashing,” said William Doolittle.
Due to the damage, the storm caused a local tree service has been busy all day.
“So I’ve had 15 calls today and that’s storm calls. We usually average three to four a day,” said Cody Mantooth, owner of Southern Grind Stump and Tree Removal.
He says there are ways to try and prevent this from happening.
“Check on your trees, look up, look outside and if your tree doesn’t look like its healthy, it probably isn’t. There are a lot of signs you can look for and just call a reputable tree company and they’ll come out,” said Mantooth.
But despite the bad storm, people are thankful for what they do have.
“I guess we’re thankful nobody got hurt because it could have been a lot worse,” said Thomas.
News 12 First Alert meteorologists say there’s a chance of more severe weather Friday afternoon and evening, with lower chances Saturday. Although the risk of isolated severe weather is slight, it’s there. The main threat looks to be damaging winds.
In Augusta on Friday, fallen tree limbs could be seen across town.
The damage was especially visible on Prep Street, where one large tree had actually tipped over, exposing its roots.
On Palmetto Drive, a tall tree broke off at the trunk in someone’s front yard. By the afternoon, someone had been out cutting the broken part into pieces.
The severe weather also knocked out power to thousands of customers.
In Richmond County, just under 1,000 customers woke up without power, while 286 experienced power outages in Columbia County.
Elsewhere on the Georgia side of the Savannah River:
- In Lincoln County, Elijah State Park was closed. The park was without power and trees were on roadways There were also about 12 trees down within a two-mile radius of Lincolnton.
- Columbia County confirmed trees down near the Clarks Hill Marina.
- McDuffie County reported trees down across the county.
The situation was similar on the South Carolina side.
In Salley, The American Red Cross is assisting a family whose home on Southeast Gordon Street was damaged by the storm.
In McCormick County, trees were reported down across the county.
It might have been even more extensive in Edgefield County. With trees and power lines down in the morning, deputies advised people to stay home.
The Aiken County Sheriff’s Office confirmed numerous trees and power lines were down throughout the county, as were some power lines. Silver Bluff Road, Atomic Road and Columbia Highway North near Cumbee Trail were hit especially hard.
Near Clarks Hill, around 450 customers experienced power outages, while almost 1,600 in Edgefield experienced outages. Around Trenton, a little over 800 customers had no power Thursday night.
PHOTO GALLERY:
Copyright 2023 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
2 young males dead after boat overturns in Screven County
SYLVANIA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Two young males are dead after their boat overturned while fishing, according to the Screven County Sheriff’s Office.
According to a press release, around 12:45 p.m. on Wednesday, emergency services received a call about a boat overturning in a pond off Poor Robin Road.
Upon arrival, deputies spoke with a young adult male who was located at the scene. The male reported he had been in a boat with two other young males fishing when their boat overturned.
The young male was treated for his injuries and released, according to officials.
Additional agencies arrived on the scene including the Screven County Marine Rescue Squadron and several local scuba divers.
“After an extensive 5-hour search, in 46-degree water, the bodies of the remaining two young males were located in the pond,” said Sheriff Norman Royal.
The investigation into the circumstances that led up to these deaths is still ongoing, but no foul play is suspected at this time, according to officials.
Screven County EMS, Screven County Fire, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Effingham County Fire and Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office, also assisted in the response.
Sheriff Royal sends his thoughts and prayers to the families of these two young men and thanks all agencies that assisted and made their recovery possible.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
WATCH: Gun comes out during fight at Butler High, video shows
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A weapon was seized by school administrators after the apparent gun fell to the floor during a fight between students Tuesday at Butler High School.
Parents were told of the incident in a letter.
“Two students engaged in a fight in a classroom today during a class,” the letter stated. “During the altercation, students saw a weapon drop to the floor.”
The Richmond County School System didn’t address what kind of weapon it was, but a video on Facebook showed what appeared to be a gun.
Administrators and Richmond County School System police responded immediately and secured the school for about 45 minutes while police investigated, parents were told.
The student was taken into custody and the incident was addressed following the Code of Student Conduct and Discipline.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
Police arrest suspect in Grovetown apartment complex shooting
GROVETOWN, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A suspect has been arrested in connection to an apartment complex shooting in Grovetown, officials announced Wednesday morning.
Isaiah Bautista, 20, of Augusta, was located near Windsor Spring Road and Meadowbrook Drive, still riding in the suspect vehicle that was observed fleeing the scene of the earlier shooting, Grovetown Police Department says.
Bautista had a firearm at the time of his arrest and had multiple outstanding felony warrants through both Richmond County and Reidsville, Ga., police say.
Bautista was transported to the Charles B. Webster Detention Center on the outstanding warrants. Additional warrants will be secured by Grovetown Investigators for his charges regarding tonight’s shooting.
This investigation continues as investigators are working to identify the second suspect.
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office assisted in apprehending Bautista.
The Grovetown Police Department says they received a 911 call Tuesday at 5:02 p.m. about a shooting at the 1000 block of Joiner Circle in Joiner Crossing Apartments in Grovetown.
Police Chief Jamey Kitchens told us he was on the scene around 5:34 p.m.
When officers arrived they discovered a male victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the upper chest.
Officials say the victim was conscious when they arrived and is in a local hospital in surgery. He does not appear to have life-threatening injuries.
He tells us two unknown males entered the apartment, and one of the suspects fired several rounds hitting the victim once.
Officials used local cameras and doorbell cameras to capture the suspects fleeing on foot to a nearby vehicle and exiting the complex.
One of the suspects was wearing a mask and both were wearing dark-colored hoodies.
Multiple people were in the home at the time, including an infant who was within a few feet of the victim when he was shot. No other parties were injured.
They have a loose vehicle description and several leads are being pursued, according to Kitchens.
The victim was not a resident of the home where the incident occurred.
Kitchens wants the community to know that there is no danger to the community and that this appears to be a targeted attack.
A witness said she saw 17 police cars on the scene around 6 p.m. and that it appeared officers were searching up and down some nearby railroad tracks.
Police were clustered around one apartment in particular. The door was open and crime scene tape hung outside the entry.
Around 6:30 p.m., police brought out a child car seat and a diaper bag. The significance of those items wasn’t clear.
The incident comes amid an outbreak of violent crime that’s claimed about 200 lives in nearly three years across the CSRA.
The crime outbreak has affected communities large and small, but as the biggest city in the region, Augusta has been hit especially hard.
Authorities have blamed much of the problem on gangs.
We are working to learn more information about the incident.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
-
Technology7 days ago
Meta is highlighting a splintering global approach to online speech
-
Science4 days ago
Metro will offer free rides in L.A. through Sunday due to fires
-
Technology1 week ago
Las Vegas police release ChatGPT logs from the suspect in the Cybertruck explosion
-
Movie Reviews1 week ago
‘How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies’ Review: Thai Oscar Entry Is a Disarmingly Sentimental Tear-Jerker
-
Health1 week ago
Michael J. Fox honored with Presidential Medal of Freedom for Parkinson’s research efforts
-
Movie Reviews1 week ago
Movie Review: Millennials try to buy-in or opt-out of the “American Meltdown”
-
News1 week ago
Photos: Pacific Palisades Wildfire Engulfs Homes in an L.A. Neighborhood
-
World1 week ago
Trial Starts for Nicolas Sarkozy in Libya Election Case