Across the area

Sheriff leaves hospital; stomach virus blamed

Richmond County Sheriff Ronnie Strength is out of the hospital, his wife said Saturday afternoon.

"He's feeling a lot better now," Patti Strength said.

Sheriff Strength was taken to University Hospital after fainting during a speaking engagement at Montclair subdivision in west Augusta about 7 p.m. Thursday. He was hospitalized as a precaution so doctors could run tests. He was released about 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

Mrs. Strength said doctors told her the sheriff had a bad stomach virus.

Aiken slaying suspect surrenders to police

A second suspect in an Aiken homicide turned himself in Saturday.

An Aiken Department of Public Safety dispatcher said Jeremy Holloway turned himself in about 2 p.m.

The 21-year-old was wanted in the fatal shooting of Donald McCalla on Abbeville Avenue in Aiken on Sept. 8. He has been charged with murder, two counts of assault with intent to kill and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, according to Sgt. Aaron Dowdy.

Mr. Holloway has also been charged with armed robbery, kidnapping and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime by the Aiken County Sheriff's Office over an incident earlier this year, said sheriff's Capt. Charles Barranco.

The other suspect in the fatal shooting, Freddie Simpkins, 20, of Aiken, was arrested and charged with murder Wednesday.

Coroner names woman hit on Gordon Highway

A pedestrian struck and killed Friday night by an oncoming car on Gordon Highway has been identified.

Gloria Jean Lewis, 43, was killed about 9:30 p.m. as she was trying to cross the highway, Richmond County Deputy Coroner Johnny McDonald said.

Ms. Lewis was staying at Super Inn at 1602 Gordon Highway with her family. She had left a nearby Waffle House and was walking back to her hotel. She was struck while trying to cross three westbound lanes of traffic.

Mr. McDonald said the driver will not be charged because Ms. Lewis walked into the car's path.

A sample of Ms. Lewis' blood has been sent to Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab in Augusta for toxicology tests, Mr. McDonald said.

Robbers hold up teen changing tire by road

An Augusta teenager was robbed at gunpoint while changing a flat tire on his vehicle near Peach Orchard and Byrd roads early Saturday.

A man and woman in a white, late '90s model Honda Civic or Accord with dark-tinted windows pulled up next to the 18-year-old about 1:30 a.m., a Richmond County sheriff's report says.

The robbers pointed a laser sight on the gun at the teen and demanded his wallet and cell phone. The robbers fled on Peach Orchard Road.