Two Richmond County deputies shot a man who opened fire outside an Augusta restaurant shortly after midnight Saturday, the GBI said.
According to authorities, three deputies were working off-duty jobs at the Sole’ restaurant on Broad Street, which has heavy pedestrian traffic due to the many bars and restaurants in the area.
About 1:15 a.m., the deputies heard multiple gunshots and followed the sound. They found a man standing outside the restaurant “holding an assault pistol,” officials said. He was later identified by the GBI as 19-year-old Amazing Lee Blessed Brigham, of Hephzibah.
Two of the three deputies shot at the suspect, hitting Brigham at least once, the GBI said. Two other people were also wounded, but the GBI did not clarify if they were struck by gunfire from the suspect or the deputies. All three were taken to the hospital.
No officers were injured.
Brigham faces multiple charges, including two counts of aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.
Investigators later determined that Brigham had been in a gunfight with multiple other people, the GBI said.
“This gunfight covered an area of two to three blocks,” according to the GBI. It’s not clear what started the shootout.
One of the people injured during the shooting was later identified as a suspect. Seven Whitfield, 23, of Hephzibah, was arrested Tuesday on charges of aggravated assault and possession of a weapon during the commission of a felony, the GBI said.
Several weapons were recovered at the scene, and seven vehicles were hit by gunfire, the GBI said. Some businesses also sustained damage from stray bullets.
The GBI will conduct its independent investigation, and once complete, the case file will be given to the Augusta District Attorney’s Office for review.
It was the 27th officer-involved shooting the GBI has been asked to investigate this year.
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