Augusta sees 2 slayings, 1 suspicious death in 24 hours

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Authorities are investigating three potential homicides in Augusta in 24 hours.

They all happened Friday and Saturday.

Richmond County Coroner Mark Bowen on Monday just released information about a fatal shooting that happened Friday.

It happened in the 2800 block of Waterside Drive, where Edward Goins, 53, of Augusta, was shot at least one time.

Goins was taken to Wellstar MCG hospital and pronounced dead on Saturday at 1:08 p.m.

An autopsy has been scheduled.

Also on Saturday, a man’s body was found in a Dollar General parking lot in Augusta.

Bowen said 28-year-old Elias Jkhael Delk appeared to have died from multiple blunt-force trauma.

Deputies responded to the 1700 block of Martin Luther King Jr around 4:45 a.m. to investigate a suspicious situation.

When deputies arrived, they found Delk dead with blunt-force trauma, according to authorities.

Bowen said he victim was pronounced dead at the scene at 5:45 a.m.

The investigation is ongoing, and Bowen and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office are calling it a homicide.

An autopsy is scheduled.

Another case that’s being investigated is the death of a homeless person.

On Friday, authorities say they responded to the Interstate 520 eastbound ramp at Windsor Spring Road to investigate a report of a deceased person.

According to Bowen, the man was pronounced dead at the scene around 5 p.m. Friday.

The death is considered suspicious, according to officials.

Crime across the region

The incidents come amid a more than two-year outbreak of violent crime that’s claimed more than 150 lives across the CSRA.

Communities large and small have been affected on both sides of the Savannah River, but as the largest city in the region, Augusta has been hit especially hard.

The deaths came a week after a ask for extra law enforcement help from the state.

But these latest incidents happened far from downtown, which has been the focus of much attention in the past week.

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