A Richmond County deputy is fighting for his life after being shot Saturday in a deadly shootout with a homeless man at a closed business on Ellis Street.
Deputy Kenneth Mercer is being treated at the Augusta University Medical Center’s Trauma Unit after suffering a massive wound to his neck, according to Chief Deputy Pat Clayton in a message to RCSO personnel. The homeless man was killed in the shootout and has not been identified.
From Chief Clayton’s message: “By now, most of you know that Deputy Ken Mercer was shot by a homeless man on the 1300 block of Ellis Street this afternoon at about 12:30 P.M. Deputy Mercer was transported to the AUMC Trauma Unit. … (The gunshot) exited in the opposite rear shoulder. He is still in surgery which could last for another few hours, but they are doing their best to repair the wounds. The Doctor briefed us mid-surgery and advised that he is ‘cautiously optimistic’ that Deputy Mercer will survive the wounds although he is in critical condition.”
Deputy Mercer’s family has ben notified, and Gov. Brian Kemp posted the officer’s name in a message on Twitter.
At 11:23 a.m., Richmond County Sheriff’s Office Deputies responded to a call about a subject with a gun at the 1200 block of Ellis Street. During the incident, Deputy Mercer and the subject were both shot at least one time.
The homeless man was pronounced dead on the scene at 1:46 p.m., according to Coroner Mark Bowen. An autopsy has been scheduled.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was requested due to the nature of the incident. The GBI responded and assumed the investigation.
Meanwhile, a local businessman said a woman in a nearby business initially called the sheriff’s office Saturday morning to complain about a homeless man yelling at people. That brought officers to the location and the confrontation led to the shootout.
The businessman, who didn’t want to be named, said homeless people are a continuous nuisance in the downtown area, using closed and abandoned buildings to live, especially those who don’t maintain them or even cut the grass.
“I own three properties,” he said. “I have it cut to the ground. Others that don’t are just breeding places for the homeless. I am not saying homeless people are bad. But Augusta needs to clean it up. Jesus, they have to do something.”
The businessman said homeless people are all around. “A month ago, I had a guy one my property who just leaned against the wall and died,” he said.
He said many property owners should do more to help discourage their presence, such as securing their buildings.
