A 13-year-old Augusta boy has been charged with murder after a local convenience store owner died from injuries she suffered after he pushed her.
Antonio Cyrail Williams and two females tried to steal a 12-pack of beer from Get It to Go II on Deans Bridge Road around 6:20 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 24. Owner Chong Chon, 74, tried to stop them.
“The male juvenile pushed Chon, causing her to fall to the floor and hit her head,” sheriff’s Sgt. Caleb Lee said. “The subjects fled the store and Chon went to the hospital where she would succumb to her injury on February 20, 2024.”
Until Chon died, the case was under investigation simply as a shoplifting and simple battery. The beer was worth $13.99. But sheriff’s investigators learned about the woman’s death and quickly identified Williams as the juvenile who pushed the victim.
On Friday, law enforcement charged Williams with murder while in the commission of a felony, with the primary felony being aggravated battery. The sheriff’s office said his mugshot was not available.
A juvenile can be charged as an adult in Georgia if they are accused of committing one of seven serious offenses, which include murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, rape, aggravated sodomy, aggravated sexual battery or aggravated child molestation.
A sheriff’s report from Jan. 24 gives additional details on the assault when the owner was still alive and able to say what happened. Chon said she was working behind the counter when three juveniles entered the store. Two females wore all black and the male juvenile wore a red, white and blue sweater, sunglasses, and a ski mask over his head.
“Chon stated she attempted to stop the black male by stepping in front of him and telling him to put it back,” the report says. “The black male then pushed Chon to the ground and ran out the front door with the 2 other black females.”
The report continues, “Chon also showed me video evidence which I documented on my BWC [body worn camera] and I observed the 3 individuals enter the store and the black male with the striped sweater take the beer and push Chon down and run out the store. Chon stated the 3 suspects then ran towards Georgetown Road on foot. I searched the area however was unable to find anyone matching the description of the suspects. I also advised Chon to call back if the suspects return.”
The Georgia statute for “murder while in the commission of a felony” says that a person commits the offense of murder when “in the commission of a felony, he or she causes the death of another human being irrespective of malice.” In this case, authorities say the felony was aggravated battery, not shoplifting.
Note: If you have a photo of victim Chong Chon to share, please text it to 803-487-3224.
