Americus Times-Recorder, Americus, Georgia

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    1 of 2 weekend shooting victims dies
July 30, 2012

1 of 2 weekend shooting victims dies

Beth Alston The Americus Times-Recorder

AMERICUS — One of the two victims of a weekend shooting in Americus died Monday morning while the other man, a 20-year-old hospitalized at Phoebe Sumter Medical Center, Americus, is expected to live.

Danny Jackson, special agent in charge of the Region III Americus Office of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, said that Richard T. Willis, 25, of Americus, died around 9 a.m. Monday at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany. Meanwhile, he said of the second shooting victim, “It looks like he will survive.”

Jackson said the shootings occurred at approximately 3:45 a.m. Sunday outside the Astro Club at 153 Sunset Park. He said the club was “technically closed” at the time of the shootings.

The gunman, who is being sought, shot each man once.

“There appears to have been some type of an argument prior to the shootings,” according to Jackson, who said his agency was called in to assist at the request of the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.

Due to the ongoing investigation, Jackson would not comment on the type of gun used in the shootings.

Meanwhile, it was confirmed Monday afternoon that Willis had been a former student at South Georgia Technical College (SGTC), which issued the following statement.

“A former South Georgia Technical College early childhood care and education student passed away as a result of injuries sustained in an off-campus shooting incident over the weekend.

“Richard T. Willis, 25, of an Elm Avenue address in Americus, was reportedly shot following an altercation and was transported and admitted to Phoebe Putney Hospital in Albany, Georgia. He passed away as a result of his injuries.

“Willis enrolled in the South Georgia Technical College early childhood care and education program in January 2010, and attended through spring 2012. He attended Georgia Perimeter College prior to attending South Georgia Technical College. He was a 2005 graduate of Mount Zion High School in Jonesboro.

" ‘Obviously we are saddened to learn of the death of one of our former students,’ said South Georgia Technical College President Sparky Reeves. ‘Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.’ ”

SGTC officials made arrangements Monday for on-campus counseling services to be available to the early childhood care and education students and other SGTC students, faculty and staff who were affected by the loss.

Jackson would not comment on the identity of the second shooting victim since the investigation, which is now a murder investigation, is ongoing.



 

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