In a shocking turn of events, a second suspect has been arrested in connection to the armed robbery and murder of an employee at the Augusta Smoke Shop on Lumpkin Road. Authorities in Burke County, Georgia, identified Antwan Herndon, of Waynesboro, who came forward to the Burke County Sheriff’s Office on Sunday evening, leading to his arrest.
Herndon’s arrest marks a significant breakthrough in the investigation, which had previously identified but not located the second and third suspects involved in the crime. According to the Burke County Sheriff’s Office, Herndon provided sufficient information to charge him in connection to the robbery and murder of 29-year-old Abdallah Rubeha, an employee at the shop. Herndon is now in custody, awaiting extradition to Augusta, and his mugshot is pending.
Authorities are still searching for the third suspect, Terry McClennon, who remains at large. The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office has urged anyone with information on McClennon’s whereabouts to contact law enforcement immediately.
The incident happened on January 11, around 9:30 p.m., when Rubeha was tragically shot during the armed robbery. Deputies arrived at the scene to find Rubeha had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to Wellstar MCG Hospital but later died at 7:35 a.m.
The suspects used a vehicle registered in Burke County, and Burke County deputies pursued the vehicle in a high-speed chase before making an arrest. The driver, Terrance Walker, 22, was apprehended and charged with felony aggravated assault, armed robbery, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. Deputies also recovered a black Taurus G2C 9 mm handgun believed to have been stolen during the robbery.
This is now the third homicide of 2025 in Augusta, highlighting a troubling increase in violent crime in the region. Communities on both sides of the Savannah River have been impacted, and Augusta has been among the hardest hit, with nearly 200 lives claimed over the past few years.
The Burke County Sheriff’s Office and Richmond County deputies continue to investigate, and authorities have emphasized the importance of community cooperation in solving these tragic crimes.
