Crime
19-year-old Braxton Johnson and 38-year-old man killed in Bruceville-Eddy shooting, suspect Romi Frentescu arrested
Both the suspect and one of the victims are affiliated with the Cossack motorcycle group.
The Bruceville-Eddy Police Department is investigating a fatal shooting incident that occurred on Saturday night, resulting in the deaths of two individuals.
Authorities responded to the scene at the intersection of Mackey Ranch Road and Old Moody Road around 7:20 PM.
Initial investigations revealed that at least three people were involved in an altercation that escalated into violence.
One of the victims, a 38-year-old man, was fatally wounded and pronounced dead at the scene.
The second victim, 19-year-old Braxton Johnson, was transported to Baylor Scott and White Hospital in Temple for treatment of his injuries but tragically succumbed to them.
The suspect fled the scene following the shooting but was later apprehended at their residence. He has been identified as Romi Frentescu.
Bruceville-Eddy PD has confirmed that both the suspect and one of the victims are affiliated with the Cossack motorcycle group.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and further details will be released as they become available.
Crime
34-year-old Augusta Fireman Spencer Johnson charged in accidental shooting of his 3-year-old son in Harlem
Johnson, a decorated firefighter from Augusta, was arrested on Friday.
A Columbia County father, Spencer Allen Johnson, 34, of Harlem, Georgia, has been charged with child cruelty after his 3-year-old son, Evan Johnson, accidentally shot himself in the shoulder with an unsecured firearm.
According to authorities, the incident occurred Thursday night when the child accessed an unsecured firearm in his father’s bedroom.
The young boy, left unsupervised, discharged the weapon, resulting in a gunshot wound to his shoulder. Fortunately, the child is expected to make a full recovery.
Johnson, a decorated firefighter from Augusta, was arrested on Friday.
He faces charges of child cruelty stemming from criminal negligence, which authorities allege caused “excessive physical pain” to his son through neglectful supervision. He is currently being held at the Columbia County Detention Center with bond set at $10,100.
The Harlem Police Department did not initially release information about the shooting. However, as rumors of the incident spread on social media, the situation was later confirmed by both WGAC’s Austin Rhodes and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office late Friday evening.
Early Saturday morning, Harlem Police Chief issued a statement on the department’s Facebook page, stating that the case remains under investigation as new details emerge.
The Chief’s statement suggests that the full circumstances surrounding the shooting are still being determined.
In his booking photo, Johnson is seen wearing an anti-suicide smock, a standard precautionary measure taken in some detention facilities.
The incident has sparked discussions about gun safety and parental responsibility. Authorities are expected to release further information as the investigation unfolds.
Meanwhile, the Columbia County community remains concerned about ensuring proper firearm storage to prevent similar tragedies.