A 39-year-old Augusta man died early Saturday after being shot on the 2400 block of Amsterdam Drive, becoming Richmond County's 15th homicide of the year. John Scarboro suffered at least one gunshot wound to the upper torso and was taken to Doctors Hospital for treatment, where he was pronounced dead at 12:26 a.m.
Richmond County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to the scene shortly before 11:50 p.m. Friday, according to authorities cited by WRDW. Officials have not provided additional details about a possible suspect or motive, and the investigation remains ongoing. The sheriff's office has scheduled an autopsy for Scarboro, while the investigation continues.
A Familiar Name in Augusta's Shooting Cases
Scarboro's death marks the third time he has been at the center of a deadly shooting investigation in Augusta. He was one of three suspects charged in a 2014 drug-related shooting outside a local Bi-Lo supermarket that killed Michael Hanson, according to The Augusta Press. The outlet reports that he had previously survived two major criminal cases involving deadly shootings in the city, though this week's shooting left him the victim rather than a suspect.
The same report from the Augusta Press notes that Scarboro's killing brings Richmond County's homicide count to 15 for 2026, based on county law enforcement data. That tally underscores the pace of violent crime the county has faced this year, even as local agencies continue targeted crime-suppression efforts across Augusta.
Same Block Has Seen Deadly Violence Before
This is not the first fatal shooting on the 2400 block of Amsterdam Drive. In September or October 2017, 17-year-old Nazarien Ferron was shot late on a Saturday night in the same residential corridor and later died at Augusta University Medical Center, according to WRDW's earlier coverage of that case. Gun violence on the street goes back further still — 20-year-old Edwin Dean Williams Jr. was killed there in June 2015, according to the National Gun Violence Memorial, illustrating long-standing public safety concerns in the South Augusta neighborhood.
Scarboro's shooting came on the same calendar date as reports by local outlets such as The Augusta Press and WSB-TV that deputies were hunting a gunman who opened fire on them, part of a string of violent incidents Richmond County has faced in recent months. Gunshot victims requiring specialized emergency care in the county are routinely transported to Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center.
State Resources Backing Local Investigations
Georgia authorities have paired state resources with local investigations to address gun violence in Augusta. The Georgia Attorney General's Gang Prosecution Unit has brought multi-defendant indictments in local shooting cases, partnering with the Richmond County Sheriff's Office to target organized gang violence, per the Office of the Attorney General of Georgia. When violent crime suspects evade custody, the sheriff's office's Crime Suppression Team has also conducted joint operations with federal partners such as the U.S. Marshals Service's Southeastern Fugitive Task Force.
Georgia law addresses possessing or using a firearm during a violent felony such as murder. Jaylavin Nyacarye Fulmer was identified and arrested in connection with Scarboro's killing, and the motive behind the late-night shooting remains unknown. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Richmond County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Division at 706-821-1020.
