A quiet Sunday afternoon turned deadly when gunfire erupted at the Sprint gas station on Edgefield Road, leaving two people dead and another injured, according to North Augusta Public Safety.
Authorities identified the victims as 76-year-old Jewel Harden of Hephzibah and 33-year-old Thomas B. Lilly, Jr. of Williston, South Carolina.
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Officers responded to the scene shortly after receiving reports of shots fired. Upon arrival, they encountered an armed suspect, prompting officers to open fire. Officials say that by the time law enforcement arrived, two victims had already been shot. The injured individual was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment, though their condition has not been disclosed.
Investigators are working to determine what led to the deadly confrontation and whether the suspect had any prior connection to the victims. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) has been called in to assist with the investigation, as is standard procedure in officer-involved shootings.
Community members have been left shaken by the tragic loss. Friends and neighbors described both Harden and Lilly as kind, hardworking individuals who didn’t deserve such a violent end.
Messages of sympathy and support have flooded social media, with many expressing condolences to the victims’ families. “We are truly heartbroken,” one post read. “Our prayers go out to the families of Jewel and Thomas during this unimaginable time.”
As investigators continue piecing together the events that unfolded, authorities are urging anyone with additional information about the shooting to contact North Augusta Public Safety.