At least 10 people have been arrested in connection with Saturday’s deadly shooting in Augusta that authorities said involved rival motorcycle clubs.
The gunfight, which left two dead and four injured, started at the clubhouse of the Outcast Motorcycle Club, Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree said during a news conference Monday. When the dust settled, upwards of 150 shell casings were scattered across an entire block near a residential neighborhood.
“With the amount of firepower and carnage at the scene, this could have been a much more horrible event,” Roundtree said.
Deputies responded around 6:35 p.m. to reports of a shooting in the 200 block of East Boundary and the 100 block of Sandbar Ferry Road. When they arrived, they found two men shot in the area. Both died at the scene.
They were identified as 30-year-old Keith Coates of Valdosta and 51-year-old Germayne Farrell of Daytona Beach, Florida, according to Richmond County Coroner Mark Bowen.
Deputies said the four others who were shot were taken to a hospital.
The sheriff said the shootout stemmed from a prior incident between Outcast and Thug Riders MC, whose members came to Augusta in an act of retaliation. He noted that the armed individuals traveled from as far as Florida to engage in the violence.
“They came here to start trouble at that club,” Roundtree said. “This is a targeted attack, a coordinated attack.”
Those arrested were members of both motorcycle clubs, and none were from Augusta, the sheriff said. They were booked on charges of murder and aggravated assault.
Warrants were also obtained for two others members struck by gunfire, Deja Dotson and Jonathan Keaton, both of whom are still in the hospital. They will be facing the same charges, the sheriff’s office said.
Deputies said more than a dozen motorcycles, a vehicle and 10 firearms were recovered from the scene. Authorities are still looking at whether there is an ongoing threat of retaliation.
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