The circumstances behind the shooting of a woman on Walton Way and the suicide death of a man at Pendleton King Park are being looked into by the authorities. Tuesday saw the shooting death of a lady in broad daylight, making her the most recent victim of a two-year crime spree throughout the CSRA that has claimed the lives of over 150 people. The suspect then committed suicide after that. The two incidents took place a mere five minutes apart. Lashonda Wilkerson, a resident of Hephzibah, 45, has been identified as the victim by the Richmond County Coroner’s Office.
Augusta GA Murder-Suicide
The coroner’s office has identified the suspect as 45-year-old Michael Brooks. The first shooting was reported at Druid Park Avenue and Walton Way shortly after 1:30 p.m., according to deputies. Following reports from onlookers that they saw a body on the street with a sheet covering it, Richmond County Coroner Mark Bowen determined that the case was one of homicide. He stated that an autopsy had been scheduled and that the female victim was declared dead around 1:50 p.m.
Then, five minutes away at Pendleton King Park, deputies discovered the suspect car with a male driver at 2:35 p.m. According to deputies, he appeared to have shot himself in the head and was deceased. At 2:45 p.m., he was declared deceased, and an autopsy had been planned. The Augusta Parks and Recreation Department stated at 4 p.m. that Pendleton King Park will be temporarily closed.
Michael Brooks Suicide
Between a Wendy’s and a Checkers on Walton Way, there was yellow crime tape put around the site where the woman was killed. A tow vehicle was pulling up a white car with flashers on around 2:55 p.m. Since April 2022, the CSRA has seen an increase in crime that has resulted in over 150 fatalities, with the woman being the most recent victim. The crime wave has impacted large and small towns alike on both sides of the Savannah River, but Augusta has been particularly severely struck.
