Suspect arrested in Circle K slaying; deputy recovering after shootout

ing the victims: CSRA slaying surge’s toll nears 50

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - A suspect has been arrested in connection with an Oct. 10 fatal shooting at an Augusta Circle K – and that suspect is the same person taken into custody after a shootout with deputies in Aiken County.

Meanwhile, a deputy injured in the shooytout is recovering from his wound.

The 15-year-old suspect’s name isn’t being released due to their age, according to authorities.

The suspect’s photo was released last week as someone wanted for questioning in connection with the fatal shooting of Nathaniel Mack, 29, of Augusta, at the convenience store in the 2800 block of Peach Orchard Road.

The suspect was captured Friday at a home on Storm Branch Road in Aiken County. The clash near Beech Island included an exchange of gunfire that injured a deputy.

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Assisting Richmond County deputies with the case, several Aiken County deputies and of the Aiken County SWAT team responded Friday to the home where the murder subject was believed to be.

There was an exchange of gunfire during the confrontation, and an officer suffered minor injuries, Aiken County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Eric Abdullah said.

The suspect was not injured and was taken in custody by 6:20 p.m.

The injured deputy, meanwhile, is recovering at home after a bullet grazed his right forearm.

The deputy is being identified only as a 48-year-old Caucasian male with the Special Operations Team. He’s been with the sheriff’s agency since 2005.

he was released from the hospital Friday night.

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The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is investigating the officer-involved shooting – which is typical. SLED conducts these investigations at the request of the agency involved in the incident or the agency with jurisdiction. SLED says its goal “is to conduct a thorough, independent criminal investigation as timely as is possible under the circumstances.”

Information gathered in the SLED investigation of the incident will be summarized in a case file report to be submitted to prosecutors.

It was the fourth officer-involved shooting for the Aiken County Sheriff’s office this year and the 30th in South Carolina. In 2021, there were 40 officer involved shootings in South Carolina. The Aiken County Sheriff’s Office had three last year.

The Circle K shooting came amid an outbreak of violent and deadly crimes that’s swept the CSRA since spring, claiming nearly 50 lives. As the largest city in the CSRA, Augusta has been hit especially hard, but the outbreak has affected communities large and small in both sides of the Savannah River.

In addition to the Circle K shooting, a potential suspect is still at-large in connection with a shooting Oct. 17 at a Dunkin Donuts on Washington Road.