A late-night altercation that ended in gunfire and heartbreak for one Augusta family has now exploded into a full-scale gang prosecution, with five young men under indictment for their alleged roles in the brutal May 22 shooting death of 28-year-old Kameron Mason.
Mason, a beloved property manager and father of two, was killed at the MacArthur Park Apartments on Integrity Drive after confronting a group of intruders attempting to access the closed pool area after hours. What initially seemed like a tragic case of a confrontation gone wrong has since been exposed as part of a broader picture, one with deep ties to organized gang activity across Georgia, authorities said.
Following a sweeping investigation, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr announced this week that all five individuals present that night have now been indicted by a Richmond County Grand Jury. They are accused of being members of Extort Anybody (EA), a local criminal street gang with documented connections to the notorious Loyalty Over Everything (LOE) gang, a group previously tied to a multi-county operation involving the murder of an 8-year-old girl and the seizure of 15 pounds of fentanyl.
The Attorney General’s Gang Prosecution Unit, working alongside the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, brought the charges forward last Tuesday. The development marks a significant escalation in what had initially appeared to be a local crime, now formally embedded in a complex network of gang violence that law enforcement has been battling for years.
The indictment also sheds new light on the violence, with charges for aggravated assault for some, accusing the suspects of shooting in the direction of Angel Anderson and shooting into an apartment occupied by Mary Williams. A child cruelty indictment claims the gang shot into a residence where a victim under 18 was present. A criminal damage to property charge says the gang struck an apartment owned by Travis Varnum, causing damage. Also, several vehicles were struck with gunfire, including a white Lexus owned by Kamerson Wilson and a black Volkswagon owned by Anna Weeks. Indictments for tampering with evidence accuses the suspects of concealing evidence, including the murder weapon.
According to the new indictment, Cam’ron Barber Harris, 20, of Augusta, faces a sweeping array of charges, including malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, cruelty to children in the first degree, violation of the street gang terrorism and prevention act, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and criminal damage to property in the first degree. Authorities say he was shot in the leg by Mason during the exchange, but survived.
Tyler Preston, 21, of Augusta, is facing nearly identical charges: malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, cruelty to children in the first degree, multiple counts under the street gang terrorism and prevention act, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and criminal damage to property in the first degree. He was taken into custody the day after the shooting.
Three additional suspects were not initially named at the time of the killing but have now been charged in the latest indictment.
Christopher Morton, 19, of Augusta, has been charged with multiple violations of the street gang terrorism and prevention act, tampering with evidence, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm by a first offender probationer.
Zmerr Dent, 18, of Augusta, faces charges including violations of the street gang terrorism and prevention act, tampering with evidence, and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.
Jamontae Douglas, also 18 and from Augusta, is charged with two counts under the street gang terrorism and prevention act and one count of tampering with evidence.
Authorities believe the five suspects were attempting to enter the apartment pool after hours and became aggressive when confronted by Mason. Two of the defendants allegedly drew firearms and opened fire on him. Despite returning fire in what investigators say was self-defense, Mason was struck and died at the scene before emergency responders arrived.
The case has become a rallying cry for anti-gang enforcement in the region.
“Gang violence of any kind will not be tolerated in Richmond County or anywhere in our state,” said Attorney General Carr in announcing the indictment. Carr’s Gang Prosecution Unit, formed in 2022, has now expanded to operate across 18 counties and continues to broaden its reach, including a future expansion into Savannah.
Richmond County Sheriff Eugene Brantley praised the joint operation, stating the indictment sends a clear message to those “driving the violent crime that impacts our citizens.”
Mason’s death has left a lasting void at the MacArthur Park complex, where residents remembered him as a firm but fair manager who prioritized safety. His family continues to mourn a man they described as a loyal son, partner, and devoted father, senselessly gunned down while simply doing his job.
This case marks the latest high-profile indictment in Augusta as Georgia continues its statewide crackdown on organized gang activity.
