Judge grants bail for shooting that sparked panic in downtown Augusta

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A judge granted $25,000 bail to one of the suspects in a summer shooting on a crowded Augusta sidewalk that sparked panic among downtown revelers .

Seven D. Whitfield was granted a $25,000 aggregate bond — plus a number of conditions — for all charges he faces in connection with the shooting, during which he was initially taken to the hospital as an alleged victim.

The gunfire broke out around 1:15 a.m. on June 8. trigger chaos among frightened downtown visitors, spark complaints from business owners concerned about safety and prompting the mayor to ask the state for help from law enforcement.

Authorities said there was a shooting between at least one person and several others.

DOWNTOWN SHOOTING: PREVIOUS COVERAGE

Whitfield is charged with three counts of aggravated assault, two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and 12 counts of first-degree criminal damage to property, according to the district attorney Jared Williams.

There are other co-defendants, including two who have not been arrested.

One of them is Whitfield’s brother, Amazing Lee Blessed Brigham, who was arrested shortly after the shooting, like Whitfield.

Williams listed two victims’ names in this case and also added “anyone who was downtown on the night of June 8.”

Williams opposed Whitfield’s bail, calling him “one of the easily identifiable shooters in the downtown Broad Street gang shooting, which we are fortunate did not turn into a mass shooting.”

Williams gave the judge photos from the scene and surveillance video.

From left to right: Amazing Brigham and Seven Whitfield(Contributed)

Williams told the judge that the defense wanted people to believe that Whitfield went downtown with his friends, but they took several high-powered weapons with them, and it is confirmed that Whitfield provided a rifle to the one of the other armed men.

Williams said it was unclear who started the shooting, but that two separate groups of young men were involved.

Williams says Whitfield’s group is seen on video exchanging words with the others, then Whitfield is seen closing in behind the brick column in front of a bank getting into a shooting position.

Williams says that’s one of the photos he provided to the judge.

Williams claims Whitfield and the other group fired multiple times, including at bystanders, partygoers and off-duty officers, who then had to return fire to protect the public.

Williams called the shooting “senseless violence that has tormented our community for too long.”

He said Whitfield posed a significant danger to people and property in the community, predicting “retaliation for this encounter.”

Williams mentioned Whitfield’s criminal history, which included an arrest in North Augusta on suspicion of illegally carrying a weapon.

In asking for bail, the defense mentioned family members who were present at the hearing to support Whitfield.

This included three rows of family members, including his mother and father.

When Whitfield appeared on video at the hearing, he smiled and greeted his family.

The defense said Whitfield had been employed by a local electrical company since 2020, and the attorney handed employer letters to the judge, who said they were “positive in highlighting his work ethic within the company”.

The defense asked the judge to grant Whitfield reasonable bail so he can return to work, and called his criminal history “very limited,” adding that there was no violent criminal history.

The defense claims that when the warrant was issued for his arrest, he turned himself in and the defense said he posed no flight risk.

The defense said that based on the GBI’s preliminary investigation, it “does not appear that Whitfield is the aggressor in this case.”

He will have to wear a monitor and respect a curfew from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. He will be able to go to work, and if the curfew conflicts with his work schedule, he will have to prove that schedule to his probation officer.

He must not have any direct, indirect or third-party contact with potential witnesses, other accused or victims. He must not have any gang association or affiliation.

He will live with his sister, Eternity Brigham.