An Augusta man was fatally shot on Walker Street Tuesday afternoon, not far from an elementary school, authorities said.
The shooting happened around 1:30 p.m., and Richmond County deputies arrived to find 29-year-old Cattory McBride with gunshot wounds. He was rushed to Wellstar MCG Health Hospital, where he later died around 3 p.m., according to Coroner Mark Bowen.
This shooting marks the first homicide of the year in Richmond County and the first murder investigation under Sheriff Gino Brantley’s leadership.
While authorities have not named any suspects or determined a motive, the victim had served three stints in prison for convictions related to gang activity, drugs, robbery and weapons offenses. McBride, who also went by Antonio, was most recently released in May 2023 after serving time for cocaine possession and weapons charges.
The shooting’s location has been a nuisance to Harrisburg for years, according to resident Nancy Chance Blanchard. “I feel confident that our new sheriff and his team will take the bulls by the horn and get safety under control,” she wrote on Facebook.
The shooting occurred near Lamar-Milledge Elementary School on Eve Street. In response, additional school security was deployed, though the school was cleared in time for dismissal at 3 p.m.
Richmond County saw 50 homicides last year under the previous sheriff, including four in January 2024.