In the late summer of 2015, the life of 34-year-old Carlton Deon Nipple was cut short in Augusta, Georgia, following a dispute that spiraled into violence. On Wednesday, August 5, 2015, Nipple was fatally shot in the chest. In the immediate aftermath, he was driven to the emergency room at GRU Hospital and left there by an unidentified individual who quickly departed. Medical personnel were unable to save him, and he died shortly after his arrival.
The events that culminated in Nipple's death were rooted in a personal conflict. Authorities determined that Nipple and another man, Sidney Carter III, were involved in an ongoing dispute over a woman with whom they both had children. This long-simmering tension tragically came to a head on that August afternoon. Accompanied by three other men—Marcellus Nipple, Antonio Rivers, and Brandon L. Jackson—Carlton Nipple went to Carter's residence with the intention of confronting him. An argument ensued, during which Carlton Nipple reportedly brandished a handgun.
In what investigators later deemed an act of self-defense, Sidney Carter III also produced a firearm and shot Carlton Nipple. Following the shooting, Carter fled the scene on foot as Marcellus Nipple fired at him. Subsequently, Marcellus Nipple, Brandon Jackson, and Antonio Rivers transported the wounded Carlton Nipple to the hospital. After leaving him at the emergency room, Rivers disposed of the vehicle and the handgun used in the incident.
Law enforcement officials launched an investigation that quickly led to the apprehension of the three men who had accompanied Carlton Nipple. Marcellus Nipple, Antonio Rivers, and Brandon L. Jackson were arrested and faced charges of felony murder and aggravated assault. Marcellus Nipple also faced additional charges for firearm possession, including possession by a convicted felon. After a thorough review of the evidence and witness statements, investigators concluded that Sidney Carter III had acted in self-defense and, therefore, no charges were filed against him in connection with the shooting.
