Sunday, November 28, 2010
AUGUSTA -- A deadly shooting at an apartment complex is now a murder case, Richmond County investigators told News 12 tonight.
ADVERTISEMENTDeputies were called to the Fairway Village complex on the 2900 block of Richmond Hill Road around 8:20 p.m.
Sam Carroll Jr.'s body was found in the woods near the apartment complex and the coroner was paged to the scene. Crime scene technicians were also processing the area.
Sources say another person was shot at but was not hit.Man killed in Augusta's 38th murder for 2010
Investigators are trying to solve the 38th murder in Richmond County this year. Sam Carroll Jr. is dead after a shooting at an apartment complex off Richmond Hill Road.
http://wrdw.videogenesis.net/watch?v=13073
AUGUSTA, Ga. – Richmond County investigators say the suspect in yesterday’s murder on Richmond Hill Road has turned himself in.
23 year old Desmond Marquette Anthony is is the suspect in the shooting death of Samuel Carroll Jr. He is being charged with murder, criminal attempt armed robbery and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.
News 12 at 6 O'clock / Monday, November 29, 2010
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- It was a busy day looking for answers following a deadly weekend in Richmond County. A man is now facing charges in the county's latest homicide. Desmond Anthony turned himself in Monday afternoon and will be charged with Murder and Attempted Armed Robbery. Anthony is accused of killing 20-year-old Sam Carroll Jr. who was found dead Sunday night at the Fairway Village apartments on the 2900 block of Richmond Hill Road.
Investigators found Carroll's body in some woods by the apartment complex.This is Richmond County's third murder in less than a week and 38th homicide for the year.
It's a story that seems to be becoming all too familiar in Augusta. One young person charged with killing another, leaving families torn apart and searching for answers. Flowers now mark the spot where Sam Carroll's body was found Sunday night.
Sam lived with his Aunt Crystal in Augusta. She's known the young man his whole life. "Me and Sam grew up together- everybody called us twins! And I'd say no we're not twins! But I feel it now- it feels like a part of me is gone."
Sam had a one year old son who lives in Marietta. "He would say, 'I'm gonna give my son the things I didn't have. The choices I made- make sure he didn't do that.'" Sam's other Aunt Alma Lee says her nephew never got into any serious trouble, "He would be out with his friends you know, but he was never one to start any trouble, never one to be in any trouble."
They say at twenty years old, Sam was just starting to figure out who he wanted to become. "He was still looking for himself," explains Crystal. "He loved his family and we loved him, but he had not found who Sam Carroll was yet."
After investigators questioned several people Monday afternoon, Desmond Anthony turned himself in. He is charged with murder. Crystal says even with all her pain, her heart goes out to Anthony's family, too. "They're gonna have to come to terms with losing their family member as well. So you killed two dreams, you know?"
Meanwhile, she says they keep expecting Sam to come home any minute. Crystal says, "I'll still be waiting for him to come home." "He's gonna be missed," Alma says through her tears. "He was such a happy person."
Sam's mother lives in New York and his father in Brunswick. Family members tell News 12 they are devastated, now planning a funeral for their twenty year old son.
Authorities haven't named a motive yet but are also charging Anthony with Armed Robbery. Sam's family thinks the murder started as a robbery. They say he went to the store that night and they never saw him again.
Sunday night's murder on Richmond Hill Road marks the 38th murder for this year, for Richmond County...that's twelve more than this time last year.
We've done some research...here are the murder rates for the past four years in Richmond County.
According to the Richmond County Sheriff's Office, the county had 26 murders in 2009, 19 in 2008, 25 in 2007, and in 2006, there were 18 murders.
As you can see, Augusta is seeing it's highest murder rate in years, and lawmakers say it's time to do something about it.
We spoke with Georgia State Senator Hardie Davis, U.S. Attorney Ed Tarver, and State Representative Quincy Murphy about their efforts to stop crime. They tell us, leaders are looking at national programs to see how other cities have reduced their crime rates, such as the Crimestoppers program.
Now, this initiative is still in the beginning stages...leaders say they will continue to work on developing the project over the next few months.
(RIP LIL SAM)
