On a summer evening in Seneca, South Carolina, the life of 28-year-old Ricky Antonio Nickles was tragically cut short. On July 6, 2017, Nickles was shot and killed at the Seneca Gardens Apartment Complex. A devoted father of three, he was known for his vibrant personality, his loyalty, and an infectious smile. His commitment to his children was so notable that he had been named 'Father of the Year' for the 2016-2017 school year by the Seneca Head and Early Start School.
Born in Atlanta,
Georgia, Ricky Antonio Nickles, II, was a 2008 graduate of Irmo High School, where he was a talented athlete on the varsity football team, earning him the nickname “Hitman #47.” He went on to attend South Carolina State University and Midlands Technical College. He was actively involved in his community and his church, having been anointed at High Calling Ministries in Anderson, South Carolina, in 2016. At the time of his death, he was working alongside his father in the family business, which focused on assisting individuals with mental health and addiction recovery.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the Seneca Police Department launched an investigation that led to the arrest of a suspect. Keena Jerome Brown, then 31 years old, was taken into custody and initially charged with murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. The community was shaken by the violent loss of a man described as having a beautiful and happy personality who never met a stranger.
In July 2019, the case came to a resolution in an Oconee County courtroom. Brown accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter. After hearing arguments from both the prosecution and attorneys representing the Nickles family, the judge accepted the plea arrangement. Keena Jerome Brown was sentenced to 15 years in a South Carolina correctional facility for his role in the death of Ricky Antonio Nickles. He was given credit for the 753 days he had already served in custody.
