Three Arrested in Augusta Gang Investigation; One Charged with 2024 Murder
On October 23, 2025, around 1 p.m., the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office Gang Task Force, along with the SWAT Team and the U.S. Marshals Southeastern Regional Fugitive Task Force, executed a search warrant at Archer Green Apartments on Damascus Road in Augusta following a long-term gang investigation.
During the operation, investigators arrested Damien Bell, Zayquan McNair, and Kenneth Tanksley, all of Augusta. Inside the residence, officers recovered one firearm, roughly 415 grams of marijuana, and $5,669 in cash.
Arrests and Charges
Damien Bell
Bell was booked into the Charles B. Webster Detention Center on numerous counts, including:
- Violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act (8 counts)
- Drive-by Shooting
- Criminal Damage to Property
- Possession of a Firearm During a Felony (4 counts)
- Aggravated Assault (2 counts)
- Cruelty to Children in the First Degree
- Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute
Zayquan McNair
McNair, also booked into the detention center, faces the most serious charges, including:
- Murder
- Violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act (2 counts)
- Possession of a Firearm During a Felony (2 counts)
- Criminal Damage to Property
- Additional new charges for drug and firearm offenses
McNair’s murder charge stems from an August 1, 2024 drive-by shooting on Ellis Street in Augusta that killed Argie Jones, an innocent bystander. Investigators say McNair and others carried out the shooting as part of a gang conflict targeting a rival group.
Kenneth Tanksley
Tanksley was charged with:
- Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute
- Possession of a Firearm During a Felony
Sheriff’s Statement
Richmond County Sheriff Eugene Brantley praised the collaboration between local and federal partners, saying:
“We will continue to drive down crime and remove criminals from our streets. Gang life is a dead-end street that results in spending the rest of your life in prison or losing it altogether. We’re working every day with schools and community programs to steer our youth away from crime. Criminals need to understand that crime does not pay in Richmond County.”
The investigation remains ongoing, and additional arrests are possible.
