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NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. () – A tragic event unfolded at a North Augusta gas station on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of two individuals, prompting local residents to voice their concerns.
Gunfire from the gas station reached as far as the Nancy Carson Library, a place typically bustling with children, leading to the temporary closure of the children’s section as crews work to clear shattered glass and ensure safety.
“We were on our way to the store when we noticed the crime scene, so we stopped,” recounted Derek Mays, a North Augusta resident.
Police officers responded to the scene around midday, where they encountered an armed individual. One officer discharged their weapon, striking the suspect. Unfortunately, by the time law enforcement arrived, two victims, 76-year-old Jewel Harden and 33-year-old Thomas Lilly Junior, had already lost their lives.
North Augusta officers arrived around midday at the gas station and found an armed suspect. One officer fired, hitting the suspect. Two people had already been killed before police arrived … 76-year-old Jewel Harden and 33-year-old Thomas Lilly Junior.
“I got a phone call to come and open the building,” said Barbara Walker, manager at the Nancy Carson Library.
Inside the library’s children’s section — where kids read, play, and use toys — bullets pierced two windows and hit nearby walls.
Walker explained how the library was affected in the shooting.
“In between the shelves and on the shelves and the way out here on by the tables, there were these pieces of glass,” Walker said. “So, we had to clear all that up. And then as you can see, there’s one hole over there. And then there’s another where the one right there, where it was hit.”
It’s the first time the library has seen damage like this. Crews are cleaning up glass and debris to make the area safe again. Walker says she’s thankful no one was inside when the shots were fired.
“It doesn’t look like anyone would’ve been hit with any kind of ammunition or anything like that,” Walker. “But the glass and stuff over kids and stuff, that’s what we would’ve worried about.”
Cones still block parts of the Sprint parking lot, but people are still walking in. Some community members say the shooting has shaken their sense of peace.
“I can’t believe this is right here in our hometown, North Augusta,” said Debra Funches, who lives in Graniteville. “So I say stop the crime rate, let’s stop, let’s come together as a people and speak out against it.”
No officers were hurt. SLED is still investigating.