In the spring of 2016, a young man’s life was tragically cut short in Augusta, Georgia. James C. Pixley, an 18-year-old male, was found shot multiple times just before noon on Wednesday, April 13, 2016. The incident occurred on Bellemeade Drive at Hardwick Court. Emergency services rushed Pixley to Augusta University Medical Center, but his injuries were too severe, and he was pronounced dead at 12:10 p.m. Friends and a former teacher remembered him as a young man who was known for his smile and his dedication to his education.
The investigation into the death of James Pixley quickly pointed to a robbery gone wrong. Authorities determined that the motive behind the fatal shooting was the theft of marijuana from Pixley. Warrants issued in the case stated that he was robbed of the substance before being shot multiple times in his chest and arms. The swift work of law enforcement led to the identification and apprehension of two suspects in connection with the crime.
Within a short period, two men were arrested and faced charges for their involvement in the robbery and murder of James Pixley. Derrick Knight, who was 25 years old at the time, was taken into custody on the same day as the shooting. A second suspect, 21-year-old Damien Jerome Barnes, was apprehended shortly thereafter. Knight was charged with murder, armed robbery, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Barnes faced similar charges, with the exception of the convicted felon weapon possession count. At the time of his arrest, it was reported that Knight had a significant criminal history and had been released from prison the previous year after serving a fraction of a 20-year sentence for various offenses. A third suspect was also arrested in connection with the murder.
