Alexandria Janzelle "AJ" Baker, a 23-year-old woman from Durham, NC, tragically lost her life on June 10, 2011. AJ was a student at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro and a lead teacher at The Sunshine House. She was born on January 3, 1988, in New Orleans, LA. AJ was deeply loved by her family and friends, and her untimely death left a significant void in their lives.
AJ Baker was one of the victims in a triple murder-suicide that occurred in Research Triangle Park.
She was found shot to death in a parked car near the intersection of Park Office Drive and N.C. Highway 54. The autopsy report revealed that AJ was shot 13 times, including in the legs, trunk, head, and neck. The most significant shot was to the top of her head. Alongside AJ, two other women, Amesha Alia Page-Smith, 24, and Adrianne Celeste Stevens, 22, were also found dead in the car. The perpetrator, Brinton Millsap, 23, was found nearby, having shot himself after killing the three women. Millsap used a .45-caliber handgun to commit the murders.
The investigation revealed that AJ Baker and Brinton Millsap were dating, and the four individuals had been friends since elementary school. They all attended Durham's Southern High School at one time. AJ was a senior at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro studying English, while Page-Smith was one course shy of a psychology degree from North Carolina A&T University. Millsap was a basketball player at Arkansas Bible College.
The tragic incident left the community in shock and mourning. AJ's family and friends held a celebration of life for her on June 18, 2011, at First Calvary Baptist Church in Durham, NC. In lieu of flowers, they encouraged donations to programs or organizations focused on helping young people live fully with love and kindness. One such organization is Campaign 4 Change, based in Durham, NC.
AJ Baker's death was a devastating loss for her family, friends, and the community. The investigation concluded that the incident was a murder-suicide, with no further arrests or litigations related to the case. The memory of AJ and the other victims continues to be honored by those who knew and loved them.
