Richmond County sheriff's investigators say they believe a Wednesday morning raid on an abandoned Augusta home has yielded the weapon in the fatal shooting of 23-year-old Jezreel Hammond.

Members of the sheriff's gang task force descended upon the Luckey Street home, which sits within the territory claimed by the Sunset gang, on a tip they received while working that investigation, sheriff's Lt. Scott Peebles said.

They think the gang was using the home as a "trap house," or a storage facility, for their weapons and drugs, according to Lt. Peebles.

"We've got ideas about who this stuff is going to be linked to and we're going to verify that through forensics," he said.

By late morning, deputies could be seen carrying suitcases and paper bags filled with cocaine, marijuana, ecstasy and ammunition from the home. Two assault rifles, a shotgun and three handguns also were seized.

Lt. Peebles said his office had received information while working Mr. Hammond's slaying case that members of the gang were hiding their guns and drugs on Luckey Street, which is off 15th Street near the now-closed Castleberry plant.

It wasn't until recently, however, that police were able to connect it to the home that was raided Wednesday, Lt. Peebles said.

"We weren't able to pinpoint it until we got the information today," he said.

Mr. Hammond was fatally shot last month when three men burst into his Royal Street home.

A man and two teenagers, who were arrested shortly after, are accused of shooting him a number of times as his grandmother slept in another part of the home.

Ian Gemell Bonner and Cornelius Moore, both 16, were charged with murder and armed robbery in connection with the crime. Kenneth R. Gaines, 26, was charged with armed robbery, firearm and drug charges.

Reach Adam Folk at (706) 823-3339 or adam.folk@augustachronicle.com.