41-year-old man arrested in South Carolina in death of Augusta woman

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A 41-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the death of a 53-year-old woman in Augusta.

The Richmond County Sheriff's Office said Samuel Howell was arrested Wednesday in Summerville, SC

Howell was charged with murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

According to the Richmond County Coroner's Office, 53-year-old Monique Hawes lived in the 3600 block of Madrid Drive.

On August 17, Hawes was found with at least one gunshot wound in the 200 block of Dan Bowles Road, the Richmond County Coroner's Office said.

According to the coroner, her death was pronounced at 2:45 a.m.

According to Richmond County Coroner Mark Bowen, the case is being investigated as a homicide.

Howell is currently being held at the Dorchester County Detention Center and his bail is set at $100,000.

The shooting occurred in the midst of a Outbreak of violent crime that left more than 170 people dead across the CSRA in just over two years.

The crime wave affected communities large and small, but as the region's largest city, Augusta was hit particularly hard.

The authorities have blamed gangs for the problem.

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