One man died and another remained critically injured after deputies responded to gunfire along Wrightsboro Road early Wednesday.
AUGUSTA, Ga. — An 18-year-old Stone Mountain man has been charged with murder after an early-morning shooting on Wrightsboro Road left one man dead and another critically injured, according to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies responded to the 3400 block of Wrightsboro Road at about 5:40 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14, after receiving a report of shots fired. Authorities said they found two male victims suffering from at least one gunshot wound each. Both were taken to a hospital, where one of the men later died. The second victim remained in critical condition in the latest information released by authorities.
The Richmond County Coroner’s Office identified the man who died as Marion Reynolds, 50, of Augusta. Reynolds was taken to Doctors Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 6:25 a.m. An autopsy was scheduled as authorities continued investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Investigators identified the suspect as Jacob Mark Pennington, 18, of Stone Mountain. The sheriff’s office said Pennington was detained at the scene and taken to the Criminal Investigations Division for questioning. Authorities later announced that he was being charged with murder and additional offenses. Officials had not publicly detailed those additional charges in the information available Thursday.
The sheriff’s office said Pennington was expected to be taken to the Charles B. Webster Detention Center. Authorities have not announced a motive or publicly explained what relationship, if any, Pennington had with Reynolds or the surviving victim. The sheriff’s office also has not released the name of the second man.
The shooting prompted a large law enforcement response along one of west Augusta’s major commercial corridors. Investigators worked in the area near Wrightsboro Road and Bobby Jones Expressway as portions of Wrightsboro Road were temporarily closed. The roadway later reopened as deputies continued processing the scene.
News crews reported seeing caution tape surrounding the parking lot of the Augusta Beverage Center while investigators placed evidence markers in the area. The scene remained active for several hours Wednesday morning before authorities cleared the area. Officials have not publicly released a detailed sequence of events leading to the gunfire.
A worker at a nearby restaurant told WJBF that the police response drew attention from employees and customers early that morning. Pamela Lawson said a regular customer alerted workers to a shooting in the area. She later saw an armed man near the restaurant’s parking area and moved customers inside before locking the doors and preparing to use the business’s panic button.
Lawson told the station the man appeared upset and was carrying a gun, but investigators have not confirmed that the person she described was Pennington. Authorities also have not established publicly whether the encounter Lawson described was directly connected to the shooting. That distinction remains important as detectives work to establish the events before and after the gunfire.
Another man interviewed near the scene told WJBF that he saw the police response but did not witness the shooting. He said he recognized people associated with the area, although investigators have not independently confirmed his account or announced what may have led to the confrontation.
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office continued investigating the shooting as of Friday. Authorities had not announced a motive, released the identity or updated condition of the surviving victim, or provided additional details about what investigators believe led to the shooting.
Author note: Last updated October 16, 2026.