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Salvation Army in Covington begins accepting housing, utility assistance requests
salvation army
Tom Spigolon
Published: Apr 18, 2022, 8:54 PM

COVINGTON, Ga. -- The Salvation Army in Covington began accepting applications today, April 18, for federal COVID-19 emergency funds to help pay housing and utility bills past due because of pandemic-related job losses or health problems.

Officials with the agency, however, gave a warning to potential applicants.

"Applications will be reviewed on a first-come, first-serve basis," officials said on a checklist given to potential applicants.

"There is no guarantee of approval by submission of application."

The Newton County Board of Commissioners hired the Salvation Army in Covington to accept applications and distribute funds given to the county for distribution through the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

It is among $10.8 million the county received for distribution to assist with the recovery from the pandemic.

Beginning today, April 18, residents must pick up an application packet from the Salvation Army at 6193 Washington St. SW in Covington to receive some of the $700,000 Newton County commissioners allotted to rental and utilities assistance from federal ARPA funds. Applications will be taken until the funding runs out, county spokesman Bryan Fazio said.

Salvation Army officials note applicants must be Newton County residents.

"We are only able to help in cases where you are behind on your rental, mortgage or utilities bill," Salvation Army officials say on a "Financial Emergency Services Checklist."

It stated that those behind in paying both a rental or mortgage and utilities bills should include both statements.

Applicants will be required to provide a completed application, a copy of the applicant's photo ID; a rent or mortgage verification form and a W-9 form if applying as a private landlord.

Application packets can be picked up -- and completed packets dropped off -- inside the social service entrance of the Salvation Army Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. .

The application can be viewed here.

For more information email: christal.guthrie@uss.salvationarmy.org.
Authorities release identities from Friday morning shootings
All four worked at Walmart; suspect in custody
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The Salem Road Walmart was closed to the public on Friday following the early morning shooting spree. - photo by Evan Newton
Kate Verity
Updated: Apr 11, 2025, 8:44 PM
Published: Apr 11, 2025, 8:05 PM

The Newton County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) held a press conference on Friday afternoon identifying the suspect and victims from the Friday morning attacks.

According to the NCSO, 21-year-old Khalaf Barksdale of Conyers was the first man killed inside the Walmart on Salem Road. Then 20-year-old Ryan Bradley of Covington was shot and injured. While it was originally believed Bradley was shot in the parking lot, the NCSO confirmed he was shot inside the actual store.

The third victim, who was shot in a residence on Emerson Trail, was confirmed by the NCSO to be 19-year-old Akeela Clarke of Covington. 

Bradley was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. He is now listed as stable, according to the NCSO.

Barksdale and Clarke were pronounced deceased at each respective scene.


The suspected shooter is 24-year-old Dwayne Eduh of Covington. 

Following the three attacks, Eduh fled east on I-20. The NCSO, assisted by the Georgia State Patrol, requested further assistance from the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office and South Carolina State Troopers.

According to a press release from the Aiken County Sheriff's Office, they entered into a “brief standoff” with Eduh at 3:55 a.m., after which Eduh shot himself. No deputies were injured.

Eduh remains in critical condition at a hospital in Augusta. The NCSO was unable to say where Eduh administered the self-inflicted shot. 

The NCSO also corrected a previous finding where it was believed that the first victim was shot and killed inside the Walmart and the second victim was shot and injured in the store’s parking lot.

All four people involved worked at the Salem Road Walmart.

Clarke’s family members were at the NCSO’s news conference. They alleged that it took authorities nearly half an hour to respond to their 911 call.

“So it took 29 minutes to leave from Walmart a mile away to go to 345 Emerson Trail, my house,” said Samantha Clarke, who lived with Akeela. “Twenty-nine minutes it took you guys to come to my house. It's actually 29 odd minutes because I called and my daughter called, she was on the phone for 29 minutes.”

NCSO Public Information Officer and Sergeant Jack Redlinger, who spoke at the conference, said the office’s response time would be looked into.

“We are not familiar with that, but we will check into that with 911 and find out exactly how many minutes,” Redlinger said.

The NCSO was unable to comment on the motive or the victims’ relationship with one another and their attackers, saying they can only confirm them to have been “acquaintances” as of now.

“We don't know [the] motive at this time,” Redlinger said. “All I know is that they were acquaintances and they all worked here at Walmart.”

What led to Eduh’s attacks remains unclear. The investigation remains active. 

The Walmart on Salem Road is closed for the remainder of today.

The original reports associated with this story are located here.