A shooting in Augusta claimed the life of a man early today, the latest in a wave of deadly incidents that's swept Richmond County during what's supposed to be a time to reflect on our blessings.

The Richmond County Sheriff's Office said deputies responded at 1:14 a.m. to the report of the shooting in the 3600 block of Byrd Road.

Arriving officers found the victim inside the home suffering an apparent gunshot wound.

According to the office of Richmond County Coroner Mark Bowen, the victim was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:02 a.m.

Bowen's office identified him as Benjamin Chavous, 44. While Bowen's office said he was from Warrenton, deputies said he was from Hephzibah. His body will be sent to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation lab for an autopsy.

Deputies said investigators were able to link Robert Olyowski, 29, of Augusta, to the shooting. He was taken into custody and charged with involuntary manslaughter and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, according to the sheriff's agency.

The shooting occurred in a south Augusta neighborhood of mostly double-wide mobile homes set back far from the roadway just east of Peach Orchard Road and south of Tobacco Road.

It's in the same quadrant of the city as a homicide that occurred late Tuesday.
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