An Augusta couple is facing aggravated assault charges after shooting an older man in the head early Saturday during a failed robbery attempt on Broad Street, authorities said.
Convicted felon Da’Mon Cole, 28, and Destiny Reeves, 27, are being held on warrants accusing them of shooting a 61-year-old man from Edgefield, S.C. The victim was listed Saturday morning in critical condition at Wellstar MCG Health, according to Chief of Staff Lewis Blanchard with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office. The victim’s name has not been released.
The incident occurred around 2:12 a.m. Saturday on the 900 block of Broad Street, as nearby bars and nightclubs were closing for the evening. Deputies already in the area on foot patrol quickly responded and found a 61-year-old white male suffering from a gunshot wound to the head.
Authorities say Reeves approached the victim on Broad Street while Cole hid behind a car. Reeves claims they planned to rob the man. But as she led the victim near the car, Cole jumped out and shot the man in the head with a pistol, authorities said.
“Thanks to the proactive downtown safety plan implemented by Sheriff Eugene Brantley – which includes having two deputies assigned to each block of Broad Street on weekend nights – two suspects, one male and one female, were quickly apprehended in the immediate area,” Chief Blanchard said.
Chief Blanchard noted that while incidents like this are concerning, Sheriff Brantley’s safety plan has led to a significant decline in criminal activity downtown. The Sheriff’s Office remains committed to working with city leadership, business owners, and the community to maintain safety and foster a thriving downtown environment, he said.
Both suspects are facing charges of aggravated assault and criminal attempted armed robbery, while Cole is also facing charges of weapon possession and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Cole is a convicted felon who spent 10 years of a 20-year sentence in prison for an 2013 armed robbery. He was released in May 2023 after serving just half of the time.
