A Richmond County deputy is recovering after being shot in the torso during a foot chase that turned into a gunfight outside a Waffle House just after midnight Wednesday.
🚨 Why It Matters: The shooting unfolded in a busy commercial corridor off Washington Road near I-20, where two deputies exchanged gunfire with a robbery suspect who had already opened fire first. Both the wounded deputy and the suspect underwent surgery.
🔫 What Happened: Deputies Victor Rodriguez and Corporal Amanda Donald responded to a 12:38 a.m. call about an armed robbery at a BP gas station on Washington Road. When they arrived, 20-year-old Dalyn Dewayne Elder of Augusta ran. Near the Waffle House in front of Outback Steakhouse, Elder fired at Rodriguez, hitting him multiple times in the torso. Rodriguez returned fire. Elder kept running behind Outback into a shopping center parking lot, where he fired again at Donald. She shot back, striking him at least once.
🏥 The Injuries: Rodriguez remains in stable condition. Elder, who had multiple felony warrants for aggravated assault from an earlier incident on Central Avenue, also underwent surgery and is stable.
🔍 Between the Lines: Investigators found a second suspect at a Super 8 motel and are questioning others connected to the case.
🧩 Who’s Investigating: The Richmond County Criminal Investigations Division is handling the robbery. The Regional Force Investigation Team, led by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, is investigating the officer-involved shooting. The area between Bonefish Grill and Outback Steakhouse was closed until around 7 a.m.
📍 The Big Picture: Elder was already wanted on felony aggravated assault warrants when deputies encountered him. Sheriff Brantley was at the hospital with Rodriguez’s family. “We are incredibly grateful for the quick and courageous response from our deputies during this dangerous and unpredictable situation,” he said in a statement.
The Sources: Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.
⚠️ Reminder: Crime articles contain only charges and information from police reports and law enforcement statements. Suspects and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
