Several people were shot outside a south Augusta gas station early Thursday morning. One of them was an Augusta man who survived a shooting in 2017 only to die from his wounds this time, authorities said.
Damien Tanksley, 35, of Richmond Hill Road, was shot around 12:46 a.m. Thursday at the Get It to Go store on Windsor Spring Road in Augusta. He was rushed by EMS to Augusta University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 10:21 a.m. Thursday, according to Coroner Mark Bowen.
Others injured in the shooting include Sonya Logan, 47, and Willie Gonder, 39, both of Augusta, according to an email from Sgt. William McCarty of the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.
“During the course of the investigation, it was discovered that Damien Tanksley had been in a verbal altercation with Kahlil Lawrence (21, of Augusta). During the altercation, Damien Tanksley brandished a firearm and had threatened to kill Kahlil Lawrence several times. Kahlil Lawrence who was also armed, asked Damien Tanksley multiple times to leave him alone and after his attempts failed, Kahlil Lawrence shot Damien Tanskley. Damien Tanksley attempted to return fire, when it is believed that he shot Willie Gonder and Sonya Logan,” McCarty’s email said. “There was video of the incident that was reviewed and this time there will be no charges on Kahlil Lawrence.”
Tanksley is the same man who was shot in 2017 on Karleen Drive in Hephzibah. Several suspects were charged and convicted in that crime, including one who got 10 months.
Greg Rickabaugh is the Jail Report contributor for The Augusta Press. Reach him at greg.rickabaugh@theaugustapress.com Managing editor Charmain Z. Brackett contributed to this article.
