Sheriff Says Out-of-Town Motorcycle Club Members Came Looking for Violence

Violence erupted Saturday at the clubhouse of the Outcast Motorcycle Club in Augusta.  Members of the local group had gathered for a cookout when members of the Outcast and Thug Riders groups from other areas traveled to Augusta looking for violence, according to Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree.

During a news conference today, Roundtree confirmed 51-year-old Germayne Farrell of Daytona Beach and 30-year-old Keith Coates of Valdosta died at the scene around 6:30 p.m.  Four others were injured and are still undergoing treatment.

A total of 12 people have been arrested and charged with Murder and Aggravated Assault.  Of those 12, only 44-year-old Larry Ross is from the Augusta area.  He is among those still undergoing medical treatment.  The others are reported to be from Kingsland, Georgia; St. Mary's, Georgia; Lumberton, North Carolina; Fayetteville, North Carolina; and Boynton Beach, Florida.

Roundtree said about 150 shell casings were found in the area, as well as 10 firearms, leading investigators to believe the riders had come to Augusta ready to engage in gun violence.  He believes Saturday's shooting stemmed from a recent incident that began in Florida.

Roundtree also confirmed that an EMS worker accidentally ran over one of the men pronounced dead at the scene while trying to clear the scene.  An accident report on that incident hasn't been made available yet, though Roundtree called it "a tragic accident."

Roundtree said no other information about Saturday's mass shooting is being released at this time, since the investigation is continuing.