Suspect charged in July 4 Augusta Mall shooting, police scanner audio released
The Richmond County Sheriff's Office has arrested an Augusta man in connection to the Fourth of July shooting inside the Augusta Mall.
Derek Lamont Blue, 23, of Augusta, is charged with aggravated assault and possession of a gun during a crime, according to a news release from the sheriff's office.
Richmond County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a shooting inside Snipes, a shoe store in the mall, just after 3:30 p.m. July 4, according to previous reporting.
Newly-released police scanner audio files show that within minutes deputies identified the shooter as a Black man wearing a red shirt and black pants. Seconds later, a deputy provided the suspect's name, saying "Derek Blue is the shooter."
After the shooting, Blue allegedly exited the Dick's entrance on the lower level, deputies said in the recordings.
Deputies found a man, identified as Rico Julius Walton, 25, of Hephzibah, who was shot in the left upper thigh and right knee, according to the incident report. He told deputies he knew the shooter.
He was taken to a local hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening, The Chronicle reported.
Deputies spoke with a witnesses who said Walton was attempting to check out when he saw Blue standing behind him, according to the report.
The witnesses said Walton turned to Blue and said, "Why are you following me?" according to the report. Blue responded, "I'm not following you, I'm shopping."
Walton turned back to Blue and said, "I bet you if I hit you with that switch, you won't be following me anymore," according to the report.
Then Blue allegedly pulled a gun from his waistband and pointed it at Walton, firing two rounds and then fleeing the scene, according to the report.
Previous report: Hear all 911 calls made during the most recent Augusta Mall shooting
Later in the recordings, a deputy said, "the suspect we're looking for, in surveillance, is different than the Derek we were looking for and has a red shirt, light blue jeans, multi-color sneakers and long dreads."
Deputies reported the second suspect already left the mall, according to the recordings.
The sheriff's office declined to answer inquiries about the shooting and the involved shooter(s) Wednesday afternoon.
In April, there was an initial shooting inside Dillard's at the Augusta Mall.
The victim, who was shot at least once, drove themselves to a local hospital and at least two suspects were arrested and charged in connection to the shooting, according to previous reporting.
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Suspect charged in July 4 Augusta Mall shooting
