‘Are you ready to die tonight?’: New details on smoke shop murder
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Bond has been denied to one of the suspects in the murder and armed robbery of an employee at an Augusta smoke shop in January.
On Friday, Antwan Herndon, 22, of Waynesboro, was denied bond as the state says he is a “risk to the community.”
We attended the bond hearing and were able to learn more about what happened the night the store clerk Abdallah Rubeha, 29, was killed.
According to the prosecution, Herndon, along with two other suspects, Terrance Walker and Terry McClendon, got into a car owned by Walker’s grandmother and drove from Burke County to Richmond County.
McClendon stayed in the car while Herndon and Walker went inside the smoke shop, authorities said.
The prosecution states that Walker points the gun at the clerk and asks him if he’s “ready to die tonight.”
With the victim unwilling to open the cash , Walker then shoots him in the face “point blank,” according to the prosecution.
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The prosecution says that the victim fell to the ground near the cash and Herndon then jumped over the counter and began fighting to open the .
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office said the incident happened at the Smoke Shop, 2303 Lumpkin Road, around 9:30 p.m. Jan. 11.
A witness told authorities when she came into the store, she found Rubeah lying on the floor and called authorities.
The suspects all began traveling back to Burke County, stopping at two gas stations to spend the stolen money, according to the prosecution.
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The prosecution says that at this point, the suspects had taken off their masks but were still in the same clothing.
Burke County deputies say after the robbery, they were able to identify the three suspects and their vehicle, so they attempted a traffic stop on Savannah Avenue and East 17th Street in Waynesboro.
Deputies in Burke County pursued the vehicle in a high-speed chase, which turned into a foot pursuit, officials say.
Walker was captured as he was running on foot. Herndon turned himself into Burke County days later.
McClendon remains large, authorities say.
McClendon has multiple outstanding warrants through this agency including murder and armed robbery.
He is known to frequent the 1000 block of Grubbs Street in Waynesboro, authorities say.
If you have any information on the whereabouts of McClennon, please get in touch with the Burke County Sheriff’s Office.
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The driver, Walker, was arrested and charged with felony aggravated assault, armed robbery, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime in Richmond County.
Walker faces additional charges in Richmond and Burke counties, including driving under the influence, according to jail bookings.
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