Shooting in downtown Augusta sparks concern among business owners

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – After a shooting in downtown Augusta sent bullets into crowds early Saturday, some business owners are concerned.

Two people were injured and the shooter was shot dead by police.

And while those in charge say it it could have been much worseCould this hurt downtown business?

On Saturday evening, less than 24 hours after the shooting, downtown was crowded and parking was hard to find.

People were still walking around and most of them didn't seem bothered by the shooting.

Still, people told us it wasn't as busy as a typical Saturday night.

Popular nightspots had people inside, but they were by no means crowded.

Everyone was very careful, said Airrie Henschell, a server at Mellow Mushroom.

His pockets were also taking a hit.

“The bills aren’t getting paid,” she said.

And while some companies are seeing a negative effect, others remain uncertain.

“I really can’t say,” said Aris Reed, co-owner of Lenox on Tenth.

“I can’t say we’ve seen too much of an influx or an effect on our business,” she said Saturday.

“I know it’s bad for the reputation of downtown Augusta,” she said.

The shooting is not a reflection of Augusta, however, she said.

“It’s very welcoming,” she said, calling the community “really great.”

Yet the downtown community is broken like the windows that bullets tore out early Saturday.

“The only thing that disheartens us is that the reputation of downtown Augusta is tarnished when events like this happen,” she said.

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She believes that no matter what happened Saturday morning, Augusta is still great.

“You know, don’t let a few bad apples ruin the group,” she said.

“It's a big city. It’s a good place.”

Some business owners expressed their concerns directly to Sheriff Richard Roundtree on Saturday.

When Roundtree held a press conference to discuss the shooting, 20 to 25 of them showed up and bombarded him with complaints and questions, particularly about young people loitering. One told the sheriff he didn't get a response from officers when he called 911.

The sheriff said he would prefer to discuss it in a different setting, since his news conference was held specifically to discuss the shooting.

Mayor Garnett Johnson said he's heard from business owners that they want a safer downtown, and he's committed to making it happen. He said he asked Gov. Brian Kemp for help, and Kemp pledged to send Georgia State Patrol troopers and Georgia Department of Natural Resources officers. to reinforce patrols in the city center.

On Saturday evening, there appeared to be a law enforcement presence on Broad Street.

News 12 walked the thoroughfare between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. Saturday and we saw:

• An unmarked white Chevrolet Impala with blue lights on, parked in front of Dirty Boots.
• A deputy parked in front of the Firestone Auto Shop.
• A Richmond County Sheriff's Office car parked at Broad and 12th streets.
• A few patrol cars in front of Smoke Shop.
• A Georgia State Patrol car; the policeman had a woman handcuffed.

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