AUGUSTA — Two men accused of shooting at each other in the Wal-Mart parking lot during an altercation that ended when armed bystanders intervened were indicted Friday on charges that include attempted murder.

Frankie Dejesus, 27, of Augusta was indicted on charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault and reckless conduct with a firearm. Reginald McBride, 45, of New York City was indicted on charges of attempted murder, aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs, reckless conduct with a firearm, and four counts of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. The indictments stem from a June 26 shooting and fight a judge described as “like an old Western shoot-out in the Wal-Mart parking lot.”

Also indicted Friday, in connection with the same incident, were Samantha E. Tupper, 24, of Augusta, on charges of unlawful furnishing of scheduled drugs and hindering apprehension or prosecution, and Diana M. Davis, 29, of Rochester, New York, on a charge of aggravated assault.

Police say McBride and Dejesus fired guns at each other during a dispute about money in the parking lot of the Augusta Wal-Mart. No one was injured.

An affidavit by Augusta Police Detective Brian Wastella states that Tupper and McBride met another car driven by Dejesus and containing three women passengers. Two of the women got out and entered Tupper’s vehicle, and both vehicles drove to Wal-Mart, parking side by side.

Both vehicles emptied and McBride, Tupper, Dejesus and Davis argued, Wastella said.

McBride told police that he and Tupper got back into their car and “he observed Dejesus point a handgun out the driver’s side of his vehicle at him. McBride stated in fear of being shot, McBride drew his handgun and began firing at Dejesus,” Wastella wrote. Dejesus told police McBride fired his gun first and Dejesus fired back.

Wastella said McBride got out of the car when the shooting stopped and began fighting with Dejesus and Davis. Tupper told police Dejesus hit McBride with the butt of a gun while Davis held him.

Then, according to police accounts, two bystanders, both legally carrying guns, took out their weapons and told the suspects to stop fighting.

Tupper and McBride drove away before police arrived. Police later found them at Tupper’s residence on Mayflower Road. Wastella said police found 42 grams of heroin on McBride.

McBride’s indictment said he had been convicted of possessing cocaine with intent to distribute in Virginia in 1996. The indictment states McBride possessed four firearms – two .22 caliber handguns, a .32 caliber handgun, and a 9 mm handgun.

McBride suffered lacerations to his head, which police said was from being hit by the butt of a gun during the fight.

 

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