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
Angela Johnson and Her Son DeAngelo Johnson Killed After Shooting Inside Home in Chicago, Mother’s Boyfriend in Custody
CHICAGO — A 47-year-old mother and her 27-year-old son were fatally shot inside a residence in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood on the West Side late Thursday night, September 24, 2026, according to Chicago police.
The victims were identified as Angela Johnson, 47, and DeAngelo Johnson, 27. Police said a suspect, identified as Angela Johnson’s boyfriend, was taken into custody following the shooting.
The deadly shooting happened in the 800 block of North Parkside Avenue at approximately 10:43 p.m. Witnesses reported hearing gunshots coming from the basement of the residence and called 911.
When Chicago police officers arrived, they found the two victims suffering from gunshot wounds.
Angela Johnson was found in the basement with a gunshot wound to her chest. Police-radio traffic indicated she had been shot on the right side of her chest.
DeAngelo Johnson was found on the first floor with multiple gunshot wounds. Radio traffic indicated that he had suffered two gunshot wounds to his back.
Both victims were initially unresponsive and in critical condition. Emergency personnel performed CPR on DeAngelo Johnson before both victims were transported to Mount Sinai Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
According to police-radio traffic, one victim was pronounced dead at approximately 11:18 p.m., while the male victim was pronounced dead around 11:21 p.m.
Investigators found extensive evidence inside the residence, including approximately 23 shell casings in a basement bedroom. Additional shell casings were reportedly recovered in other areas of the basement, including the stairway, main room and bedroom.
Officers initially recovered a firearm and shell casings from the basement bedroom. Police later located a second firearm inside the home, bringing the total number of recovered firearms to two.
Authorities have not publicly stated who owned the firearms or confirmed which weapon, if either, was used in the fatal shooting.
Police also reported that DeAngelo Johnson was wearing an empty holster when officers found him on the first floor. That discovery prompted an officer-safety alert as officers searched the residence for the missing firearm.
Chicago police said the shooting appeared to be domestic-related and identified the alleged offender as the mother’s boyfriend.
Radio traffic indicated that a person had been detained by approximately 11:26 p.m. The official police report later confirmed that the known offender was taken into custody.
Two witnesses were reportedly available to identify the alleged offender, and officers conducted a show-up identification procedure near the scene.
Police have not released additional information about potential charges against the suspect.
The investigation into the Chicago Austin neighborhood double shooting remains ongoing. Detectives are continuing to examine the circumstances that led to the shooting, the relationship between the people involved and the role of the two recovered firearms.
The deaths of Angela Johnson and DeAngelo Johnson are being investigated as a double homicide.