Suspects wanted, arrested as CSRA sees 6 slayings in 9 days
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - With a slaying Thursday night in Aiken County, the CSRA has now seen six fatal shootings in nine days.
The latest incident happened in the 1400 block of Sparkleberry Lane on Thursday.
According to the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office, the call came in at 6:50 p.m.
Arriving deputies found a male who was pronounced deceased on the scene.
Officials say the suspect, 61-year-old Vance Mack Fleming, was arrested on the scene.
Fleming was taken to the Aiken County Detention Center, and being held pending an arrest warrant for murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.
In the other CSRA slayings:
- In Augusta, a suspect is wanted in connection to the murder of a 37-year-old man.
- One person has been arrested in connection with a murder in Wagener.
- Two suspects, including a 14-year-old boy, were arrested in connection with a Sunday night murder at the Olmstead Homes in Augusta.
Suspect sought in Augusta murder
Authorities say Ryon Lewis is wanted for murder in connection with the fatal shooting of Gregory Dunn early Wednesday at Carp Drive and Tudor Drive.
Lewis is known to frequent the Fish Village and Boy Scout Road neighborhoods, authorities say. He has family connections in New Orleans.
Lewis has active arrest warrants through this agency for murder and possession of firearm during the commission of crime, according to authorities.
Authorities say he is believed to be armed and dangerous.
Any information on the whereabouts of this subject, please contact Investigator Tyler Steerman or any violent crimes investigator at the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, 706-821-1427 or 706-821-1080.
Other murders
In Wagener, 53-year-old Timothy Davenport was shot in the head at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the 200 block of Jeffcoat Road, according to the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office.
He was taken to the Lexington Medical Center, where he was declared dead at 8:50 p.m. He will be autopsied in Newberry, according to the coroner.
Around 11:15 p.m., Aiken County deputies found and arrested the suspect, Jonathan Daquan Staley, 22, on Highway 302 near Wagener, authorities say.
Staley was taken to the Aiken County Detention Center, where he is expected to be charged with murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, according to authorities.
Witnesses say he ran from the house before deputies arrived.
He was caught after local residents reported he was walking along Highway 302, sheriff’s Capt. Eric Abdullah said.
Other shootings include:
- Jalen Jones, 22, was shot around 11:33 a.m. Monday at a home in the 300 block of Greenwich Drive in Aiken. He was found in a shed in the backyard of the home and pronounced deceased on the scene from multiple gunshot wounds. Jones will be autopsied Thursday in Newberry.
- Jaleen Xavier Sumpter, 22, of the 2100 block of Reserve Lane was shot at least one time Sunday night in the 2100 block of C Street at the Olmstead Homes in Augusta. He and pronounced dead on the scene at 8:45 p.m., according to Coroner Mark Bowen. Another victim was taken to WellStar Medical College of Georgia for treatment of a gunshot wound to the leg, officials say.
- Anthony Harrison, 14, was shot dead at the Cedarwood Apartments, 527 W. Richmond Hill Road, on April 30. The Murphey Middle School student is being mourned as a good athlete and a fine young man. Authorities say Darryaun Tanksley, 15, turned himself in on Sunday after deputies identified him as a suspect in the death of Harrison.
All of these shootings come amid an outbreak of violent crime that’s claimed more than 150 lives across the CSRA in two years. It’s affected communities large and small on both sides of the Savannah River. But as the largest city in the region, Augusta has been hit especially hard.
Authorities have blamed much of the problem on gangs.
Many of the suspects and victims have been young men.
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