Augusta, GA

Tax commissioner candidate indicted in Millen double-murder case

Published

2 years ago

June 13, 2024

Tax commissioner candidate indicted in Millen double-murder case

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

Local group holds 4th annual walk against autism

Published

3 hours ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

Local group holds 4th annual walk against autism

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – April is Autism Awareness Month, and one local group raised awareness with a walk in Augusta on Sunday.

The fourth annual autism walk was hosted by Moving Over Mountains Against autism at Lake Olmstead Park.

All proceeds from the walk support autism awareness initiatives.

We spoke with the CEO and founder of the group, Deidre Roberson, who said this year they are dedicating the walk to their photographer, who died recently.

Roberson told us what she looks forward to the most.

“I look most forward to seeing the different people every year. We always meet different people, new people, and they come from all over the CSRA, so Washington, Wilkes, Carolina,” she said.

There were also several vendors providing resources to families.

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Augusta, GA

From Augusta roots to Nighthawks leader: Nolan Belcher comes home

Published

15 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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