Gas station releases statement on N. Augusta double killing

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NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - We’re now hearing from a Sprint gas station after a deadly shooting in North Augusta.

Two people were killed in the shooting and the suspect was shot by law enforcement Sunday.

It happened at a Sprint gas station off of Edgefield Road, according to officials.

EG America, who owns Sprint convenient stores, released a statement on Tuesday:

“EG America is deeply saddened by the events that happened on October 26 at our Sprint store on Edgefield Road in North Augusta, SC. The safety of our guests and team members is our top priority, and we are providing support for those impacted. We are cooperating with local authorities and ask that all inquiries are directed to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.”

2 teens in ‘serious condition’ after shooting on Butler Manor Drive

Richmond County deputies responded to Butler Manor Drive after two teenagers were shot Monday evening.

On Monday, we learned the suspect was armed with an AR-style pistol, according to South Carolina Law Enforcement Division officials.

Officials have not released the name of the suspect.

As is standard when an officer fires a weapon, SLED is investigating the case.

Aiken County Coroner Darryl Ables identified those killed as:

Jewel Harden, 76, of Hephzibah.
Thomas B. Lilly Brandt Jr., 33, of Williston.

This was the scene Monday, a day after two people were shot dead near the Sprint station at... — This was the scene Monday, a day after two people were shot dead near the Sprint station at 107 Edgefield Road in North Augusta.(WRDW/WAGT)

Both will be autopsied Wednesday in Newberry.

It all unfolded before 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Sprint at 107 Edgefield Road.

Upon arrival, North Augusta Department of Public Safety officers encountered an armed suspect in the parking lot.

The suspect was shot by an officer but survived and was taken to a hospital, according to authorities.

No officers were injured, officials say.

Officers say the investigation revealed the two victims had been shot before officers got there

Both died at the scene.

North Augusta officers were joined at the scene by the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office, South Carolina Highway Patrol and emergency medical crews. There were at least a dozen unmarked and law enforcement vehicles, two firetrucks and three ambulances.

Crime scene tape was wrapped around the gas station.

Residents said they heard multiple gunshots.

“It was gunshots. I mean, and you could tell it was a gunshot. I peeped out the door just a little bit,” said Susan Holley, lives nearby. “A few minutes later, you could hear the police cars and the sirens and everything else. I knew it was something bad that had happened across the way.”

Stray bullets struck the Nancy Carson Library next door to the gas station.

The staff on Monday was grateful the library was closed at the time.

Windows in the children’s section were punctured by bullets that traveled through multiple walls inside the building.

On Monday, areas inside were blocked by “DANGER” signs warning of broken glass.

Manager Barbara Walker was saddened that people died in the shooting.

“That, to me, is just the worst part, knowing somebody lost their lives,” Barbara Walker said. “I don’t know who they were. I don’t know anything about them. But I know that was somebody’s family member, somebody’s son, daughter, sister, brother.”

Walker has the children’s section of the library blocked off.

“There were no children in that section. We were just really thankful that nobody was here to be affected that way,” she said.

Bullet hole in window at the Nancy Carson Library in North Augusta, next door to the site of a... — Bullet hole in window at the Nancy Carson Library in North Augusta, next door to the site of a double-fatal shooting Sunday.(WRDW/WAGT)

We spoke to a witness who said he knew one of the victims.

“He was like a mentor. He was my best friend. I really admired him. He always had a happy-go-lucky type of attitude,” said Stephen Tinsley.

Kristy Tinsley and her son Stephen spoke with News 12. They say they both knew Thomas Lilly, whom they call Tad, very well.

“He was goofy. He was annoying, but everybody loved him. He would give you his shirt off his back, an heartbeat,” Kristy said.

Stephen said, “He was the type of person … I found like an older brother in a sense. Not only that, best friend first as well, because I could never put him second.”

The shooting occurred in an area where residents said violence is uncommon.

“That’s one thing about living here, I feel good about living in North Augusta,” said Holley, adding she remains cautious but doesn’t typically feel unsafe.

We asked SLED if there was any connection to the shooter and the victims, if the attack was random or targeted and if they could confirm that the suspect the officer shot is who killed the victims.

We did not get answers to those questions.

But the community is still working to understand the violence.

Other officer-involved shootings in our area

SLED investigates officer-involved shootings in South Carolina at the request of the agency involved or the agency with jurisdiction.

SLED says its goal is to conduct a thorough, independent criminal investigation as quickly as possible.

Agents will conduct interviews with all potential witnesses, and collect and test relevant evidence.

Sunday’s incident is the 40th officer-involved shooting in South Carolina in 2025 and the first this year for the North Augusta Department of Public Safety.

However, there have been several recent shootings in the CSRA involving officers: