34-year-old man shot dead at Azalea Park Apartments in Augusta

Remembering the victims: CSRA slaying surge’s toll surpasses 50

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - A 34-year-old man has become the latest victim of a surge in deadly crimes that’s claimed more than 50 lives since spring across the CSRA.

Joseph Fortson, 34, of the 1900 block of Sanford Court, was fatally shot Sunday night at the Azalea Park Apartments, 1814 Fayetteville Drive, according to Richmond County Coroner Mark Bowen.

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He was was shot at least one time and pronounced dead on the scene at 1:10 a.m.

An autopsy has been scheduled with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, according to Bowen.

This isn’t the first trouble at Azalea Park.

This past June, a woman was found dead in an SUV at the complex in what was deemed a suspicious death.

And in January, a man died at the complex after being shot near Club 706 in Augusta.

In June 2020, the victim of a fatal stabbing was found in a ditch outside the complex and then in September 2020, a fight at the apartment complex turned fatal.

Also, a pair of fires at the complex about a year ago displaced dozens of residents. After the first fire, we learned the city had discovered more than 200 code enforcement violations over three years at the complex.

The surge in deadly crime since spring has affected CSRA communities of all sizes on both sides of the Savannah River. As the largest city in the CSRA, Augusta has been hit hard.

Last weekend, the city saw two deadly shootings.

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office has blamed much of the problem on gangs and has installed dozens of high-tech surveillance cameras in hotspots.

And deputies are prepared to install more.