Judge grants bond in shooting that set off downtown Augusta panic
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - A judge granted $25,000 bond to one of the suspects in a summer shooting on a crowded Augusta sidewalk that sent panic through downtown late-night revelers.
Seven D. Whitfield was granted a $25,000 overall bond – plus a number of conditions – for all the charges he faces in connection with the shooting, in which he was initially taken to a hospital as a suspected victim.
The gunfire broke out around 1:15 a.m. June 8, spurring the mayor to ask the state for law enforcement assistance.
Authorities have said there was a gunfight between at least one person and multiple others.
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Whitfield is charged with three counts of aggravated assault, two counts of possession of a firearm under the commission of a crime and 12 counts of criminal damage to property in the first degree, according to District Attorney Jared Williams.
In court, Williams named four co-defendants alongside Whitfield — Amazing Lee Blessed Brigham, Lyondo Ware Jr., DaQuan Cutliff and Robert Lee Jones.
Brigham, who is Whitfield’s brother, was arrested soon after the shooting, like Whitfield.
Williams listed two victim names in the case, and also added “anyone who was downtown on the night of June 8.”
Williams opposed bond for Whitfield, calling him “one of the readily identifiable shooters from the downtown Broad Street gang gunfight, which we are fortunate did not turn into a mass shooting.”
Williams gave the judge photos from the scene and surveillance video.
Williams told the judge the defense wants people to believe Whitfield went down downtown with his friends, but they took multiple high-powered weapons with them, and Whitfield is confirmed to have provided one of the other gunmen with a rifle.
Williams said it was unclear who started the shooting, but two distinct groups of young men were involved.
Williams says Whitfield’s group is seen on video exchanging words with the others and then Whitfield is seen clo behind the column of bricks in front of a bank getting in a shooting stance.
Williams says that’s one of the photos he provided the judge.
Williams says Whitfield and the other group fired multiple times, including in the direction of bystanders, partygoers and off-duty officers, who then had to return fire to protect the public.
Williams called the shooting part of the “senseless violence has plagued our community too long.”
He said Whitfield poses a significant danger to people and property in the community, predicting “retribution for this encounter.”
Williams mentioned Whitfield’s criminal history, which included a North Augusta arrest on suspicion of unlawfully carrying a weapon.
In seeking bond, the defense mentioned the family who were present at the hearing to Whitfield. That included three rows of family , including his mom and dad.
When Whitfield showed up on video for the hearing, he smiled and waved at his family.
The defense said Whitfield has been employed by a local electric company since 2020, and the attorney gave employer letters to the judge, who said they were “positive in highlighting his work ethic at the company.”
The defense asked the judge to grant Whitfield reasonable bond so he could go back to work, and called his criminal history is “very limited,” adding there was no violent criminal history.
The defense says when the arrest warrant was issued for him, he turned himself in and the defense said he is not a flight risk.
The defense said based on preliminary GBI investigation, it “doesn’t appear Whitfield was the aggressor in this case.”
He’ll have to wear a monitor and observe an 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew. He will be able to go to work, and if the curfew conflicts with his work schedule, he’ll have to prove the schedule to his probation officer.
He’s to have no direct, indirect or third-party with potential witnesses, other defendants or victim. He’s to have no gang association or affiliation.
He will be living with his sister, Eternity Brigham.
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