Richmond County authorities are investigating a Monday night shooting death at Smart Grocery on Wrightsboro Road.
Deputies responded to gunfire at 8:50 p.m. Monday and found the victim dead from at least one gunshot, authorities said.
Jeremiah Griffin, 32, of the 300 block of Fox Trace, Augusta, was pronounced dead at 9:30 p.m. after the coroner’s office arrived. No motive or suspect information has been released by the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office as they work the case.
Friends and family were remembering the victim online under his nickname of “Jerm.” Cherrice Pugh posted his photo and the message, “I can’t believe this. Feel like I’m waken up to a nightmare. I don’t pose to be saying R.I.P Jerm.”
Other readers say the area should be patrolled better. Dominque Huff said the store is definitely the problem.
“They allow them guys from Fox Den to hang out in the store and around the store,” she said. “If you not buying nothing, you shouldn’t be allowed to hang around the store running up to people cars asking for change an trying to make a sale.”
The killing at Smart Grocery comes a year after another homicide at the same convenience store. On Sept. 30, 2022, Zayquantez Jones, 17, was shot at the business and pronounced dead at the hospital.
Darontaye Cummings, 17, of Augusta, has been indicted for malice murder in that case. Cummings has since been charged with two incidents in the jail, including one where he allegedly helped confine another inmate in a mattress bag for an hour while Cummings and other inmates assaulted the man. The victim in the jail assault said the inmates had accused of child molestation and “messing with little girls,” a report says.
