AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – A man was found dead in a vacant lot in Augusta, Friday.

Richmond County Coroner Mark Bowen tells us 40-year-old Brandon Clark was found dead in a lot on 12th Street at Sharpes Lane.

He was pronounced dead at 7:38 p.m.

Clark’s body has been sent to the GBI for an autopsy.

Coroner Bowen tells us there was no evidence of foul play or signs of trauma.

WAYNESBORO, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – One person is dead and a teenager has been arrested after an overnight shooting in Burke County, authorities said.

Burke County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called around 1:13 a.m. on Sunday to the 200 block of Highway 23 for a physical altercation that escalated into a shooting.

On scene, deputies say they found an adult male with an apparent gunshot wound.

Deputies rendered aid and performed CPR until Burke County Emergency Management Agency personnel arrived, officials said.

The victim was taken to Burke Health, where he later died, according to the sheriffs office.

Deputies say a juvenile was also taken for treatment of injuries sustained during the altercation.

Investigators later arrested a 16-year-old suspect, who was taken to the Augusta Regional Youth Detention Center, according to authroties.

The teen is charged with murder, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, possession of a handgun by a person under 18 and tampering with evidence.

The investigation remains active.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Former Augusta mayoral candidate Lori Myles has filed a lawsuit in Richmond County Superior Court challenging the handling of the May 19 election, alleging missing absentee votes and errors tied to how results were reported, according to court records.

In the complaint filed on May 28, Myles alleges election officials mishandled voting information and election materials and claims the election returns were inaccurate. Among the allegations, the filing claims that absentee-voter records were mishandled and that there were “18,353 missing absentee votes.”

“I believe that ‘my votes, and your votes’ were stolen, erased, and strategically ‘voter suppressed,’” Myles said in lawsuit documents.

Court records show Myles filed the complaint on May 28. The lawsuit names Travis Doss (Election Supervisor), the Augusta Commission, members of Augusta’s elections board and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger among the defendants.

Myles also points to what she describes as polling-place reporting issues, repeatedly questioning why “Diamond Lakes” is not listed among polling locations/results on Augusta’s election website.

The complaint requests a recount/recanvass and references the pursuit of open-records requests. It also calls for additional verification measures — including rescanning ballots and scrutiny of QR-code tabulation — as part of the relief sought. Myles wrote that she plans to submit a voter-signature petition in support of her challenge.

The lawsuit comes as Augusta’s mayoral race is headed to a runoff between incumbent Garnett L. Johnson and challenger Steven Kendrick, a rematch of their 2022 runoff.

On election night, Johnson pointed to economic growth and new investment as he made his case for reelection: “I mean, we have some great momentum… we’re going to continue that,” he said.

Kendrick told supporters he wants to be “the alternative,” and said he would push for an operational audit of city departments to identify inefficiencies.

Results posted on Augusta’s election website for the May 19 contest show Johnson leading with 16,313 votes (42.8%), followed by Kendrick with 13,531 (35.5%), Eric Gaines with 5,442 (14.3%), and Myles with 2,832 (7.5%).

News 12 has reached out to Myles and the board of elections for any statements on the matter.