Across the area

Man sought in shooting death

Police are searching for a man in connection with the shooting death of Freddie Gene Jones on Daniel Street on Monday afternoon, according to Sgt. Richard Roundtree, of the Richmond County Sheriff's Office.

Lavardes Lockhart, 21, is wanted on charges of murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, according to a sheriff's news release. Mr. Lockhart also is known by the alias "Chicago," Sgt. Roundtree said.

Mr. Jones, 53, of the 4100 block of Pinnacle Way, was found lying in the driveway of a home on Daniel Street by residents. He had been shot twice in the left side of his head and was taken to Medical College of Georgia Hospital. He was pronounced dead at 8:14 p.m., according to Richmond County Coroner Grover Tuten.

Richmond County Sheriff's Sgt. Calvin Chew said investigators are not sure why Mr. Jones was outside the home, but he is known to deliver food to elderly residents in the area.

Mr. Lockhart is known to frequent the 12th Street and Old Savannah Road area, officials said. He should be considered armed and dangerous, they said.

Sgt. Roundtree said police do not think this man is the same "Chicago" who was implicated by a woman who was raped and kidnapped April 1, although they are still investigating that case.

Anyone with information can call the sheriff's office at (706) 821-1080 or the Criminal Investigative Division at (706) 821-1020.

Sewer line work will cause road closure

The eastbound lanes of the 100 block of Greene Street and East Boundary Road will close today at 8 a.m. and will not reopen until May 10, according to a statement from the Richmond County Engineering Department.

The closure will allow crews to install a new sewer line and storm drain.

Drivers may use Sibley Street, Broad Street, Telfair Street and Ellis Street as detours.

Police search for 2 men in van hijacking

Police are looking for two men in connection with the hijacking of a vehicle Monday night on Lumpkin Road, said Richmond County Sheriff's Lt. Jimmy Young.

The victim said he was filling his Dodge Caravan's tires with air at Sunny's Convenience Store in the 2800 block of Lumpkin Road when two men pointed a gun at him and demanded he give them the keys.

Deputies chased two suspects to Shadowwood Apartments at 2506 Lumpkin Road.

The two men apparently jumped from the van while it was moving, letting it roll through a fence and flip down a nearby hill, Lt. Young said. The men ran away, and police have yet to locate them, Lt. Young said.

Man, woman are hurt in expressway wreck

Two people were injured in an early morning car crash near Interstate 20 and Bobby Jones Expressway, Richmond County Sheriff's Maj. Richard Weaver said.

Lashawn Morton, 29, of Amsterdam Drive, and Danielle Gibson, 24, of Pepperidge Drive, were in a Chevrolet Blazer exiting on the westbound I-520 ramp at about 3 a.m. when Mr. Morton lost control of the SUV. He crashed into a guardrail, the vehicle flipped, and both he and Ms. Gibson were ejected. The SUV then rolled down a nearby embankment, Maj. Weaver said.

Ms. Gibson was listed in good condition at Medical College of Georgia Hospital, according to a hospital spokeswoman. Mr. Morton was in critical condition, the spokeswoman said.

Charter schools to be included in meetings

The Aiken County School District agreed in a Tuesday work session with Aiken Performing Arts Academy and the Lloyd-Kennedy Charter School to include charter schools in its meetings and to quickly release students' records once a parent has given permission.

The two schools and Midland Valley Preparatory School had asked the school district to include charter schools in its principals' meetings. The schools also asked to be a part of its internal courier system.

The school board said transportation issues for charter schools could not be improved because the state Legislature did not approve school bus funds for charter schools.

The school board also will allow Alltel to place a cell phone tower at the Midland Valley High School campus.

The next school board meeting is at 7 p.m. April 17.

- From staff reports