Shooting is just the latest for troubled East Boundary neighborhood
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - We’re learning more about a drive-by shooting that injured four people at a grocery store in a part of Augusta that’s seen more than its fair share of violence.
The shooting happened Tuesday evening at Paul’s IGA on Greene Street at East Boundary.
On Wednesday, the windows were shattered from what witnesses said were rounds from a machine gun. Evidence markers indicated at least 20 gunshots.
An employee working at Paul’s IGA was outside smoking a cigarette right before the shooting happened. She said she didn’t hear the front door glass shatter until she was back inside.
“By the time I hit this step, that’s when I heard all the commotion going on, all the shooting,” said the employee.
She said she ran behind the counter and got down on her knees as fast as she could.
“When I heard the shots, I said ‘Oh my god’ and just ran, took off, crawling for my life and for my safety. I was just trying to see if I was hit. It was awful,” said the employee.
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Witnesses said the gunfire came from a black sport utility vehicle that they believed was involved in an accident on Broad Street after it fled the scene.
Workers say an employee was shot twice in both arms.
The employee News 12 spoke with said there were puddles of blood all over the store after the shooting stopped. In total, four people were injured. Deputies found two at the scene and two drove themselves to a hospital.
“This is the second time someone’s been shot here,” said the employee.
This wasn’t the first shooting at the store. In April 2022, someone shot at a nearby Chevron station, but no one was hurt.
And it’s among a range of violence for the East Boundary neighborhood.
Most notably, two people were killed in a May 2023 clash between rival groups at the Outcast motorcycle clubhouse at East Boundary and Sand Bar Ferry Road.
In September, a shooting in the 400 block of East Boundary sent one person to a hospital.
Garian Henry lives right across the street from the store. She was actually at the store at the time of the shooting last year.
“I live right across the street and now I don’t even feel safe anymore,” said Henry as she looked at the bullet holes in the front window of the store.
She feels more needs to be done to curb the violence in Augusta.
“This is enough talking. It’s time to put some action into place. This is uncalled for. If we don’t do anything about it, it’ll happen again. If we don’t stop these criminals it will happen again,” said Henry.
It may not be long before a suspect is apprehended.
There’s a range of Flock anti-crime surveillance cameras in the neighborhood, which is getting special attention as law enforcement officers target troubled area. The Flock cameras are especially good at picking out license plates, so they may help deputies track down the SUV.
For now, neighbors and community are hoping more can be done by city leaders or law enforcement to reduce violent crimes like this one.
“This is my community and we’re going down the drain,” said Henry.
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