A 20-year-old man has been charged following weekend shooting that left him injured and caused property damage in downtown Augusta.
According to Lt. James Kelly with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, deputies and investigators were patrolling Broad Street around 1:45 a.m. Sunday when they heard multiple gunshots coming from the 900 block of Ellis Street. Responding officers arrived on scene and discovered a male suffering from gunshot wounds. Deputies administered aid until EMS arrived. The individual, identified as Demari Gaines, was transported to WellStar Medical Center, where he remains in stable condition.
Several individuals were seen fleeing the area and were detained by law enforcement. Multiple firearms were recovered, along with numerous spent shell casings. Several vehicles were also struck by gunfire during the incident.
Following interviews and evidence collection, investigators determined that Gaines was involved in the shooting. He is now facing charges including two counts of aggravated assault, one count of criminal damage to property in the first degree, and one count of weapon possession.
The investigation is ongoing, and more details may be released as they become available. At this time, no booking photo for Gaines is available, as he has not yet been committed to the detention center.
