A simmering feud between two rival motorcycle clubs erupted into a fatal burst of violence on a Saturday evening in Augusta, Georgia, leaving 51-year-old Germayne Farrell dead. On May 13, 2023, a planned cookout at the Outcast Motorcycle Club's clubhouse on Sand Bar Ferry Road became the scene of a deadly shootout. Farrell, a male from Daytona Beach, Florida, was killed in the exchange of gunfire.
The violence was the culmination of a dispute that law enforcement believes originated in
Florida between the Outcasts and the Thug Riders motorcycle clubs. Investigators stated that the Thug Riders traveled to Augusta seeking retaliation. The ensuing gunfight was extensive, with authorities recovering over 150 spent shell casings at the scene. In addition to Farrell, another man, Keith Coates, 30, of Valdosta, Georgia, also lost his life in the melee. Four other individuals were injured in the shootout. In a grim turn of events after the shooting, a vehicle belonging to the Augusta Fire Department accidentally ran over Farrell's body at the chaotic scene. His family later filed a lawsuit against the city for the emotional distress caused by this incident.
In the aftermath of the deadly confrontation, the Richmond County Sheriff's Office announced the arrest of twelve individuals. The suspects, hailing from Georgia, North Carolina, and Florida, were identified as James Bryant, 31; Larry Sutton, 42; Tysen Darrell Harper, 38; Jonathan Keaton, 32; Larry Ross, 44; Deja Dotson, 30; Cory Sapp, 30; Jessica Sapp, 30; McKayla Renee Rickett, 26; Matthew Perry Willis, 28; Freddie Wallace Crosson, 39; and Kenneth Lamar Taylor, 43. The majority of the suspects were charged with two counts of murder and one count of aggravated assault.
Initial court proceedings saw at least two of the suspects, Kenneth Taylor and Jonathan Keaton, granted bond in July 2023, with conditions including the use of ankle monitors and no contact with any gang members. The legal cases against the other individuals are presumed to be proceeding through the court system. However, specific details regarding their trials, potential plea agreements, or convictions have not been made publicly available. The investigation into the deadly shootout underscored the violent nature of the feud between the two motorcycle clubs, which had tragically played out on the streets of Augusta.
