Crime
43-year-old Greg Baughman dead after shooting in Aiken, wife charged with murder
The Aiken County Coroner’s Office has released the identity of the victim in a deadly shooting that occurred on Sunday evening.
Authorities responded to a report of a shooting in the 1000 block of Prides Crossing at approximately 5:09 p.m.
Upon arrival, first responders discovered 43-year-old Greg Baughman suffering from at least one gunshot wound.
Baughman was pronounced dead at the scene at 6:30 p.m., according to the coroner’s office.
Law enforcement has confirmed that the victim’s wife, Dr. Jennifer Ray, was the individual who fatally shot him. She has been arrested and charged with murder.
The couple jointly owned the Hitchcock Animal Hospital, located on Summerwood Way in Aiken.
An autopsy is scheduled to take place in Newberry, South Carolina as part of the ongoing investigation.
Witnesses reported seeing a significant law enforcement presence, with at least seven police vehicles and crime scene tape marking off the area by 6:28 p.m.
The investigation is ongoing, with the Aiken County Coroner’s Office working alongside the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office to uncover the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact local authorities.
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.