1 teen killed, another detained in Augusta Mall shooting

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - A teenager died in a shooting Tuesday at Augusta Mall, and deputies took two people into custody but are still looking for two others.

The victim was identified as Devon McClain, 17, according to Richmond County Coroner Mark Bowen.

According to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, 16-year-old Tyric Kendarius Logan of Augusta was detained on the scene. He was transported to the Criminal Investigations Division. Warrants are being issued for Logan, charging him with murder as an adult.

Additionally, the previously unidentified persons of interest sought earlier have been identified, and investigators have met with them.

McClain was more than just a victim. He was also an aggravated assault suspect in a June shooting in the Harrisburg neighborhood – which ultimately led to a youth curfew.

Sheriff Eugene Brantley pointed out that even though the mall incident was initially reported as an active shooter, it was more of a fight that got out of hand.

Yet despite the mall’s upscale character, this is by far its first shooting — or even its first deadly one.

Speaking at a news conference in the food court just before 4 p.m., Brantley said about six people were involved in the incident that was reported around 1:15 p.m.

When deputies arrived within two minutes, they found the victim.

A Richmond County Marshal’s Office deputy immediately began CPR on the teen, who was pronounced dead at 2:40 p.m.

Deputies secured exits to make sure those leaving the mall were checked, and they watched surveillance video that helped them track down the suspects.

One suspect was caught on mall property and another was intercepted while running toward a nearby gas station.

At least two people of interest were still being sought, authorities said. One may be a witness.

Brantley said two people were hurt in the chaotic aftermath of the shooting, but their injuries weren’t from the shooting itself.

Video footage shows the dispute started as a fistfight that quickly escalated when one person drew a gun, according to deputies.

One person told News 12 in an unconfirmed report that a person was shot outside a store and people dragged the victim inside to stop the bleeding.

Brantley only said the shooting happened inside the mall, downstairs near some escalators.

After the incident, the mall was closed and people were evacuated.

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office said its SWAT team secured the perimeter and cleared parking lots and vehicles, while the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office helped by clearing hallways, restrooms and businesses.

With two people of interest out there somewhere, authorities were checking vehicles as they left the mall.

Employees stayed in hiding for quite some time.

As late as 2:45 p.m., deputies said they were going from store to store to evacuate them one by one. As the cops passed through, they checked on anyone who might need medical attention.

The area near Barnes & Noble was taped off, News 12 was told.

One person told News 12 her daughter talked to her co-workers at Earthbound who said the shooting was near the escalators on that side of the mall.

An employee at Zumiez agreed the shooting happened near the escalators. Employees saw people running and closed the gate to the store. Meanwhile, a customer slid under the dressing room door and dialed 911. Then the customer and employees hid in the back room.

Employees at Great American Cookies told News 12 they sheltered in place while awaiting word from authorities.

Apple Store shoppers were ushered to the back and were hiding.

Employees at Macy’s were still hiding as late as 2:45 p.m., waiting for mall management to give them an update. They were finally escorted out around 3:10 p.m.

Not the mall’s first shooting

Brantley spoke highly of mall security, saying the staff’s help was essential in the moments after the shooting.

“Mall security played an essential role in the response,” the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. “Thanks to prior planning, security personnel quickly provided officers with video, photos, and suspect descriptions that were broadcast immediately to responding officers.”

The agency thanked the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, Richmond County Board of Education Police, Richmond County Marshal’s Office, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

It wasn’t the first – or even the second or third – shooting at the mall:

• In July 2024, a male was injured in a shooting at the mall.
• In April 2024, one person was injured in a shooting in Dillard’s.
• In June 2022, a gun was brandished during a verbal dispute in the food court.
• A shooting killed one person at the mall in 2020.

News 12 reached out to mall management for comment on this latest one, and we haven’t heard back.

But after the July 2024 shooting, mall officials noted that guns aren’t allowed there – a rule that shooters obviously pay no attention to.

After that 2024 shooting, the mall issued a statement.

“We are extremely disheartened that this targeted act of violence took place at our center,” the statement said. “We take great pride in providing a safe environment where the community can shop and socialize.”

Mall managers said they “maintain a robust security system which includes both visible and behind-the-scenes safety monitoring.”

‘It’s just the world we’re living in’

Tanner Lamb, store manager at Lids, described the clamor after the shooting.

He said he and his staff closed the gate and sheltered in the back of the store after the shooting.

“You don’t know what’s going on, just do your best to stay calm and situated and make sure you don’t panic,” he said.

After 30 to 40 minutes, deputies came to check on them.

He said things like this are unfortunate, but they’re a reality these days.

“You never like this stuff to happen, but unfortunately it does, but you’ve always got to be prepared no matter what,” Lamb said. “It’s a dangerous world now.”

Would-be mall visitor Fabian Curry, 36, lamented what the world has come to.

What would make things better?

“I don’t think it’s more security; it’s better security measures — because you can have a place full of police officers and people are still going to bring guns,“ he said.

And a metal detector might be a good idea, he said.

Curry is concerned about safety in general.

“It’s just the world we’re living in,” he said.

“Before, I was comfortable bringing my kids to the mall,” he said. “Now we’ll find somewhere else.”

After the shooting, mall workers Lee Yancey and Roscie Reed were hanging out near the BP station close to the mall.

Reed is a cook at a mall restaurant, and Yancey is a server.

They each seemed shocked yet impressed at the strong response from the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.

“It looked like the whole Army was out there,” Reed said.

“The first time this happened, it wasn’t like this,” he said.

Yancey was pretty alarmed but had nothing but good things to say about mall security and deputies who locked down his restaurant soon after the shooting on the other side of the mall.

“I’ve never been in the midst of anything like this,” he said.

“It’s really hard to wrap your head around what would make somebody want to do that. ... It just really has me concerned for our local community – especially in Augusta."

He wondered: “What is the environment for youths who are exposed to this kind of violence?”

He said the violence is a sign that there are deeper underlying issues the community needs to focus on, “so we can heal what’s hurting.”

He said his prayers go out to everybody involved.

“Even the shooters,” he said. “I think more than anybody else in this situation, they need help.”