A close friend remembered for his supportive nature, Mykyle Augustus Barton, was killed in a violent intrusion into his Richmond Hill, Georgia, home. The 37-year-old man was known as a steadfast presence for those he cared about, a man who was there for a friend during a difficult time in her life. His life was cut short in an act of domestic violence that spilled over to claim him as a victim.
The night of the incident unfolded in the early morning hours of Saturday, October 17, 2026.
At approximately 12:14 a.m., the quiet of the 100 block of Golden Grove Lane, a residential street near Richmond Hill Elementary School, was shattered by the sound of gunfire. Bryan County 911 dispatchers received a shots-fired call and sent Richmond Hill Police Department officers to the scene. Inside the home, they found Mykyle Augustus Barton suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
A resident of the home, Ceylanee Pritchard, identified the shooter to police as her estranged husband, 33-year-old Lawrence Zion Pritchard. She later shared that she and her husband had been going through a difficult divorce after 12 years of marriage. She recounted that Lawrence Pritchard broke into the home she shared with Barton and shot her roommate in front of her. She remembered Barton as a close friend who was helping her navigate this challenging period. “He just wanted to help me get out of this tough situation and always said he was trying to support me in any capacity,” she said. “He didn't deserve any of this.”
After the shooting, Lawrence Pritchard fled the residence in an SUV. Officers quickly located him near the home, but when they attempted a traffic stop, he refused to pull over, initiating a vehicle pursuit. The chase continued as officers tried multiple Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) maneuvers without success. The pursuit ended when Pritchard drove into a parking lot in the 12000 block of Georgia Highway 144, the location of a Publix supermarket a few miles from the initial crime scene.
When officers approached the stopped SUV, they discovered Lawrence Pritchard inside with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) was called in to assist the Richmond Hill Police Department in the investigation of both deaths. The bodies of both Mykyle Barton and Lawrence Pritchard were transported to the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsies.
The investigation into the murder-suicide was described as active and ongoing in the days following the incident. Once completed, the case file was to be turned over to the Atlantic Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review. With the primary suspect deceased, the case is considered closed.
In the wake of the tragedy, a GoFundMe campaign was organized for the family of Lawrence Pritchard to help with housing, groceries, and other immediate needs. The case leaves behind unanswered questions and a community mourning the violent loss of life. Authorities encouraged anyone with information about the case to contact the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Statesboro.
