Two suspects from Aiken County have been identified in a dispute that led to the shooting of a three-year-old girl early Sunday in Downtown Augusta.
The investigation identified Justin Mayes of Beech Island and Jermaine Dixon of Graniteville as the primary suspects. Authorities believe the shooting was connected to a dispute inside a local club, with the suspects involved in the altercation walking toward Ellis Street when the shots were fired.
Warrants for aggravated assault and criminal damage to property were issued for Dixon on Wednesday. Dixon was arrested during a traffic stop Wednesday night in Graniteville on a drug charge and is now being held for the Richmond County charges.
Mayes remains at large and is wanted for questioning in the case, and authorities have issued an alert for him. Both suspects have previous arrests for allegedly dealing drugs in the Augusta-Aiken area.
Officers responded at 2:28 a.m. Sunday to the 200 block of Tenth Street, arriving almost immediately due to enhanced patrols along Broad Street. They found the child in a vehicle with her mother, Faith Crawford. The child had suffered a gunshot wound but was not critically injured with no vital organs hit. She was transported to WellStar ER for treatment and admitted with a minor injury.
Crawford, from Nahunta, Georgia, told investigators she was parked in the area to pick someone up when the shots rang out.
Sheriff Eugene Brantley commended the efforts of the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office for their cooperation and quick action in the case.
“This arrest is the direct result of skilled investigators and advanced technology working together to protect our community,” Brantley said.
Authorities continue to search for Mayes and urge anyone with information to contact any on-duty Investigator at the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office at (706) 821-1020, or (706) 821-1080.
