Two people lost their lives, and another was injured following two related shootings in Augusta on Thursday night. Authorities are working to connect the incidents as the community grapples with rising violence.
Incident on C Street Ends in Tragedy
The Richmond County Coroner’s Office reported responding to a shooting in the 2100 block of C Street. A man was taken from the scene to Wellstar/MCG with at least a single gunshot wound. He succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at 8:28 p.m. An autopsy has been scheduled for further details.
Later that night, the Coroner’s Office responded to a possible suicide in the same general area. Inside a residence on C Street, a male subject was located deceased from a single gunshot wound, having been pronounced dead at 12:15 a.m. Investigators believe there is some connectivity to these two incidents and are continuing to put together what happened in the events leading up to these tragedies.
Also, on Highland Avenue, 50-year-old Chavious Kimmerlin was fatally shot inside his home. Authorities have yet to clarify whether this incident is linked to the shootings on C Street, but the spate of violence underscores a troubling pattern in Augusta.
No additional information on suspects or motives has been released, as an investigation by the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office continues. Deputies responded to the scene on Highland Avenue late Thursday night. The investigation continues.
Rising Violence Sparks Concern Across Augusta
Incidents Thursday marked the latest in a two-year surge of violent crime that has claimed more than 180 lives across the CSRA. While cities on either side of the Savannah River have felt the impact, Augusta’s larger population has experienced a particularly deep toll.
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office has called for community cooperation in the wake of an ongoing crisis. The department continues to investigate the two shootings, urging any person with information to come forward.
The region has been in mourning since the tragedy struck; the recent tragedies are a call to action to do what can be done to stem the tide of escalating violence. Today, residents of Augusta face a stark reality: another devastating night in their city.
