Lt. Aaron Fittery, a 15-year veteran with North Augusta Public Safety, was injured in a shootout Thursday, Dec. 9 on the 400 block of Georgia Avenue in front of Gary’s Hamburgers.
In a press conference Dec. 10, NAPS Chief John C. Thomas said officers were dispatched to suspicious activity Thursday afternoon and located the suspect’s vehicle.
The suspect, Thomas Airington, 42, fled, causing an accident at Martintown Road and Georgia Avenue. Thomas said there were injuries as a result of the collision but believed them to be minor injuries treated at the scene. NAPS could not provide details as to the current status of those individuals.
MORE: Man opens fires in the middle of Georgia Avenue wounding a public safety officer
Airington continued down Georgia Avenue before exiting his vehicle and opening fire.
Fittery was shot in the leg during the incident, and his vehicle received extensive damage, including bullet holes in the driver’s seat headrest.
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- Lt. Aaron Fittery was injured in a shoot out in North Augusta last week.
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- Lt. Fittery’s vehicle. Staff photo.
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- Bullet holes in headrest of Fittery’s vehicle. Staff photo.
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- Staff photo of bullet holes in the hood of Fittery’s vehicle
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- Staff photo of bullet holes in the hood of Fittery’s vehicle
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- Staff photo of windshield damage to Fittery’s vehicle caused by Thursday’s shootout.
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- Staff photo of windshield damage to Fittery’s vehicle caused by Thursday’s shootout.
According to Thomas, an unidentified Good Samaritan stopped to offer assistance to Fittery and transported him to Augusta University Hospital. NAPS is still working to identify the Good Samaritan.
Fittery was treated for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound and released Thursday night.
Anna Virella is a correspondent with The Augusta Press. Reach her at anna@theaugustapress.com.
