In the city of Augusta, Georgia, a community mourned the loss of James Andrew Wise, a 32-year-old Black / African American man known for his creative spirit. Affectionately called 'Baby James,' Wise was a talented and respected tattoo artist whose work was admired by many. Friends and clients remembered him as a cool person who showed love every time they saw him, with one saying, "He did most all my ink."
Wise’s life was cut short on the evening of Saturday, February 15, 2025.
At approximately 6:10 p.m., deputies from the Richmond County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to a residence on the 1900 block of Cooney Circle in the Jennings Place housing development following a report of a shooting. Inside, they found James Wise suffering from at least one gunshot wound to his neck. His injury was fatal, and Coroner Mark Bowen pronounced him dead at the scene at 7:09 p.m.
News of the killing, which was the seventh homicide in Augusta that year, spread quickly, prompting an outpouring of grief online as people decried the senseless violence that had taken a beloved member of their community. A week after his death, on what would have been his 33rd birthday, friends and family gathered at Dyess Park for a balloon release to honor his memory.
The investigation into the murder led authorities to identify three suspects. The Richmond County Sheriff's Office arrested two 16-year-olds, Lucas Bradley and Tayvioun Harden. Bradley was charged with murder, while Harden was charged with murder and armed robbery. Both were booked into the Charles B. Webster Detention Center. Authorities also issued warrants for 18-year-old Tyrule Da'Mario Tillman on charges of murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. Tillman was subsequently arrested on Strickland Court in connection with the murder. As of February 2025, the case against the three accused individuals was proceeding through the judicial system.
