Burke County (November 2, 2022) – Officers received a call regarding a shooting at a camper on River Road, across from Made in the Shade RV Campground, in which the victim was shot in the head. The residents, a man and a woman, explained that they discovered intruders inside when they returned home earlier that night.
They stated that a verbal altercation began when they attempted to get the perpetrators, Kaleb Lord and Tabitha Bartlett, to exit their camper, which resulted in the female resident sustaining a gunshot wound to her head. Burke County emergency services arrived and transported the victim to the Augusta University Medical Center emergency room.
The male resident told the officers he did not know how the suspects got inside because he did not see any signs of forced entry. He explained that Lord and Bartlett did not have permission to enter and did not possess keys. He said he did not notice any missing items, and the camper did not appear ransacked.
Warrants were issued, and the suspects, both Augusta residents, were arrested on January 13. Lord was charged with aggravated assault, criminal trespass, possession of a firearm during the commission of an attempt to commit certain felonies, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon or first offender, and probation violation. Bartlett’s charges included aggravated assault and criminal trespass. This case is currently pending in court.
Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]
[NARRATIVE #1 on November 02, 2022]
On Wednesday, November 2, 2022 at 2247 hours, Deputy Zakia Luke (303) responded to [4700 BLOCK] River Road Unit [REDACTED] (directly across from Made in the Shade RV Campground) in reference to a shooting where one person was shot in the head (see associated BCSO Case #202266558). It was reported that [VICTIM #1] (listed as victim/witness) sustained an injury to the head from a gun shot wound.
The complainant [VICTIM #2] (listed as complainant/victim/witness), [VICTIM #3] (listed as victim/witness), and [VICTIM #1] were all on scene at the time of deputies arrival. Burke County EMA Med Unit M2 arrived on scene and later transported [VICTIM #1] to the Augusta University Medical Center (AUMC) Emergency Room.
Lieutenant Brandon Reeves (A4) arrived on scene and notified the Burke County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) Criminal Investigations Division (CID) of the incident. Sergeant Investigator Allen Crispin (B61) and Sergeant Investigator Lynn Lee (B62) later arrived on scene. The investigation was turned over to Sergeant Crispin.
[End of Narrative]
[NARRATIVE #2 on November 02, 2022]
On Wednesday, November 2, 2022 at 2247 hours, Deputy Zakia Luke (303) responded to [4700 BLOCK] River Road Unit [REDACTED] (directly across from Made in the Shade RV Campground ) in reference to a shooting where one person was shot in the head (see associated BCSO Case #202253852). The complainant was [VICTIM #2] (also listed as victim).
[VICTIM #2] stated that prior to the shooting, around 2200 hours, he and [VICTIM #1] (listed as victim) found that Kaleb Lord and Tabitha Bartlett (both listed as offenders) had broken into their camper. [VICTIM #2] stated that Lord and Tabitha Bartlett were still inside of their camper when he and [VICTIM #1] arrived.
[VICTIM #2] stated that Lord and Tabitha Bartlett did not have permission to be inside of his camper. [VICTIM #2] is not sure how Lord and Tabitha Bartlett made entry into the camper because there were no signs of forced entry. [VICTIM #2] stated that Lord and Tabitha Bartlett did not have a key to his camper.
[VICTIM #2] stated that there were no items missing and that the camper did not appear to have been ransacked. [VICTIM #2] stated that there was a verbal altercation between all listed parties prior to him making Lord and Tabitha Bartlett leave his camper.
[End of Narrative]
