Two Aiken County brothers were killed separately this week with no arrests and no discussion of motive by authorities.
Yet, the community is buzzing about a connection between the deaths and possible revenge for stolen pit bulls.
Here is what we know: Stashaun Judge, 25, of Graniteville, was fatally shot Thursday night at North Augusta Gardens apartment complex on West Hugh Street. EMS transported the victim to Augusta University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead by a doctor, Coroner Darryl Ables said in a press release.
Judge is the brother of Wednesday’s murder victim. Stacey Judge, 28, was found fatally shot in his home Wednesday on Moon Shadow Street in Aiken.
MORE: Aiken Man is Found Dead Inside Home from a Gunshot
“Just past midnight, deputies were called to 641 Moon Shadow Street for reports of shots fired,” sheriff’s Capt. Eric Abdullah said in a press release. “A second 911 caller told dispatchers that there was deceased male at the home. New Ellenton police officer found the male on the floor of the residence with an apparent gunshot wound.”
Jasmine Judge posted this on Facebook with this photo of the victims: “These my brothers y’all took… my big brother and lil brother.. Stacey Judge and Stashaun Judge. Let that sink in…. Dashaun we gotcha bruh. Y’all took both of my brothers right in front of their sons… I will NEVER FORGIVE YALL‼️ … Nothing will take this pain away.”
Several people have contacted this reporter about a connection to stolen dogs, and the brothers being targeted. Local residents claim the brothers reportedly sold someone a pit bull for $5,000 and then stole the animal back along with a litter of pit bulls. The sheriff’s office is not commenting on that as a possible motive.
“The reason and or motive behind the shooting in under investigation,” North Augusta police said in a press release.
Still others say that residents are confusing the motive in the Judge Brother killings with the killing of 29-year-old Jhaz Allison, who they say was murdered June 24 over stolen dogs.
In that case, two Aiken County men have been charged with beating Allison in the head repeatedly and then burning his body and burying him. Austin Bernard Martin of Aiken and Dahkir Anderson of Belvedere were charged with murder and “destruction, desecration or removal of human remains.” Both men are 21.
Sharla Hamilton was also charged in the case.
Either way, the killings of the Judge brothers have taken an emotional toll on Aiken County, which has witnessed 16 homicides this year. That rivals neighboring Richmond County, which has a current toll of 17 homicides.
In Thursday’s killing, North Augusta officers arrived at North Augusta Gardens Apartments on Thursday night to find a large crowd, screaming and directing them to the victim on the ground. The victim, who goes by “Tank,” was laying on the ground with a single gunshot wound to the left side of his upper torso, a police report says.
“Detectives are working all available leads at this time and are asking anyone with information about the shooting to contact the North Augusta Department of Public Safety immediately at 803-279-2121,” a press release said.
Greg Rickabaugh is the Jail Report Contributor for The Augusta Press. Reach him at greg.rickabaugh@theaugustapress.com.
[adrotate banner=”25″]
