Crime
Augusta Mall shooting victim died
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Chaos unfolded at Augusta Mall on Tuesday afternoon when a fight involving six individuals escalated into gunfire, leaving one person dead and sparking panic among shoppers.
Richmond County Sheriff Eugene Brantley confirmed during an afternoon press conference that what began as a physical altercation quickly turned deadly.
“It all started as a fight,” Brantley said. “One of the suspects pulled out a firearm and shot the other.”
The shooting took place on the lower level of the mall near the escalators, in the vicinity of the American Eagle store.
Witnesses reported hearing at least three shots before the suspected gunman fled into a nearby Bath & Body Works.
Shoppers scrambled for safety as deputies rushed inside. Investigators located a man suffering from gunshot wounds; he was later pronounced dead.
“We have one deceased and the family has been notified,” Sheriff Brantley stated.
The incident initially triggered an active shooter alert, prompting a large-scale emergency response and lockdown of the mall.
Brantley later clarified that it was not an active shooter situation but rather a fight that escalated into a targeted shooting.
Two suspects were detained at the scene with assistance from mall security, while two others remain at large.
The sheriff credited security cameras and swift coordination with helping officers quickly identify and apprehend part of the group.
“With the release of video to us, it allowed us to respond quickly and apprehend two of the culprits,” Brantley said.
Multiple agencies responded, including the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Marshals, Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), ATF, Columbia County Sheriff’s Office SWAT, Augusta Fire Department, Central EMS, and mall security teams.
Businesses were cleared store by store, and all shoppers and employees were safely evacuated.
At 2:45 p.m., the sheriff’s office issued an update confirming that the search for additional suspects was ongoing:
“We are still on scene dealing with multiple issues at this time, and still searching for one individual. Deputies are having to clear store by store to look for anybody that is still inside hiding and/or possibly having a medical emergency. This process will take a while, so we thank you for your patience and cooperation in advance.”
The mall remained closed Tuesday evening as the investigation continued.
This shooting is the latest in a series of violent incidents at Augusta Mall.
In July 2024, a man was shot inside the Snipes shoe store in what investigators described as a targeted attack.
Earlier that spring, another person was wounded during a shooting at Dillard’s, and in 2020, a deadly shooting left one man dead and a bystander injured.
Augusta resident Shannon Sanchez, who was locked inside a storeroom with others during Tuesday’s incident, described the experience as terrifying:
“It was a terrible situation.”
Sheriff Brantley acknowledged the community’s concerns but refrained from making broader safety assurances.
“Anything could be safer than what it is,” he said. “But that is not what I am here to do.”
Crime
Aleksandr Aleksand Shablykin Fatally Stabs Mother Zoya Shablykin and Three Others at Key Peninsula Home
Five people, including the suspect, are dead following a violent stabbing incident and subsequent deputy-involved shooting Tuesday morning in the 14000 block of 87th Avenue Court Northwest near Gig Harbor, according to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO).
Authorities identified the suspect as 32-year-old Aleksandr Aleksand Shablykin.
Investigators say the incident began as a reported protection order violation and escalated into a deadly stabbing attack in a residential cul-de-sac.
Dispatchers received the first 911 call at approximately 8:41 a.m. reporting an “order violation in progress.” According to the sheriff’s office, an adult male had gone to a residence despite a no-contact protection order involving a female occupant of the home.
Deputies later clarified that although a protection order had been granted, it had not yet been formally served to the suspect and therefore was not legally enforceable at the time.
Deputies were en route to serve the order when the situation rapidly escalated.
At approximately 9:30 a.m., additional emergency calls reported that the man was actively stabbing individuals outside the home. Witnesses described a chaotic scene, with at least one victim attacked in the middle of the street in front of multiple bystanders.
A deputy arrived on scene minutes later.
According to Officer Shelbie Boyd, spokesperson for the Pierce County Force Investigation Team (PCFIT), gunfire was reported at 9:33 a.m.
“We have the adult male suspect who was shot by the deputy,” Boyd said during a press briefing.
Shablykin was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities have not yet released specific details regarding the exchange of gunfire but confirmed that the investigation remains active.
Deputies located four adult victims at the scene.
Three were pronounced dead at the residence. A fourth victim was transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition but later succumbed to their injuries.
One of the victims was identified as 52-year-old Zoya Shablykin, the suspect’s mother.
Authorities stated that relationships between the suspect and the additional victims remain under investigation.
Witness accounts suggest that neighbors may have intervened in an attempt to stop the attack.
Court records linked to the residence show that in April 2025, Zoya Shablykin petitioned for a protection order against her adult son. The order was granted in May.
In her petition, she alleged ongoing threats, harassment, and erratic behavior, including prior physical aggression. The filing referenced concerns about his mental health and stated he had previously pushed and threatened her.
The protection order prohibited the son from possessing weapons and from coming within 1,000 feet of his mother, her home, vehicle, or workplace. The order also required him to comply with a treatment plan and prescribed medications.
Investigators confirmed that although the order had been approved by the court, it had not yet been formally served to the suspect at the time of the incident. Deputies were attempting to serve the documentation when the stabbing occurred.
Court records indicate Shablykin had multiple prior contacts with law enforcement dating back to 2020, primarily involving traffic-related offenses, including driving without a valid license and refusing to identify himself during traffic stops. Records reflect at least 14 separate cases. A 2023 trespassing charge was dismissed.
A family acquaintance told media outlets that other immediate family members were not present at the residence during the attack and were safe elsewhere at the time of the incident.
The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office and the Pierce County Force Investigation Team are continuing to investigate both the stabbing deaths and the deputy-involved shooting. Authorities have not yet released the names of the additional victims pending notification of next of kin.
Officials described the event as a tragic escalation of a domestic situation that unfolded rapidly despite law enforcement response efforts.
Further updates are expected as the investigation proceeds.