The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office has released the mugshot of 16-year-old Vincent Hikeem Carter Jr., the teen charged with murder following a deadly shooting on Meadowbrook Drive last week that claimed the life of 14-year-old Deandre Howell.
The Aug. 3 shooting, which erupted during a dispute over who could sell bottled water in the area, has rattled the South Augusta community and reignited concerns about youth violence, gun access, and parental accountability.
Carter Jr., who was hospitalized in critical condition after being shot in the chest during the exchange of gunfire, has since stabilized and was jailed on Thursday. Authorities formally charged him with murder. His booking photo was released Monday afternoon, offering a stark image of a teen now at the center of a tragic and senseless act of violence.
The incident unfolded around 5 p.m. on Sunday, August 3, in the parking lot of Advance Auto Parts on Deans Bridge Road. What began as a verbal dispute among local teens – reportedly over territory for selling bottled water – escalated when one participant called his mother. She arrived on scene with her boyfriend and two sons, all bearing the Carter surname.
According to investigators, Vincent Carter Jr. exited the vehicle armed with a loaded firearm and confronted Howell. Gunfire broke out moments later. Howell was fatally shot and pronounced dead at 6:05 p.m. at the scene by Deputy Coroner Christopher Langford.
In the chaos, Carter Jr. was wounded, as was his brother, Zyion Carter, 16, who sustained a gunshot wound to the leg. A 12-year-old bystander, Josiah Overton, was also shot in the ankle.
The sheriff’s office says the shooting spanned multiple locations, including a nearby Texaco gas station, and that a vehicle crossing toward the IGA grocery store was struck by stray gunfire. Authorities have not yet clarified who fired which shots, but say the investigation remains active and additional charges are possible.
In addition to Carter Jr., 18-year-old Nametrius McClam has also been arrested and charged with murder in connection with the incident. McClam, who has a prior criminal history, had a previous case dropped just two weeks before the shooting due to lack of sufficient evidence.
Community reaction has been swift and emotional, especially given that some of the teens involved – including Howell – were part of a group commonly known as the “Water Boys,” local youth who sell bottled water at busy intersections to earn money during the summer.
“This heartbreaking tragedy is yet another reminder of how critical it is that we know where our children are, who they’re with, and what they’re involved in,” said Sheriff Gino Brantley in a statement last week. “Let this tragedy serve as a wake-up call for all of us to step up, stay involved, and stand together.”
Calls for accountability have echoed across social media and in neighborhood forums.
“I thought it was too dangerous for them to be out there,” said Carla Rouse. “Thinking one of them was going to get hit by a car. Never thought they would get shot and one would lose his life… I think the parents need to be charged.”
