Richmond County authorities have arrested a 17-year-old gang leader in connection with a tragic murder on Ellis Street that killed a 54-year-old woman.
Jayden Xavier Bell, 17, is accused of causing the death of Argie Jones when he sent the location of a rival gang to his fellow gang members in July, knowing they would carry out a violent act at that address. Jones happened to be outside the location July 27 on the 1900 block of Ellis Street.
Jones was shot and died at the hospital four days later. Bell was arrested Thursday and charged with murder and unlawful street gang activity. No other suspects have been identified.
Sheaquain Winters of New York State previously shared the tragic story of his mother, Argie Jones. He said Jones struggled with drug addiction and lived as a homeless person.
Raised primarily by his grandmother, Sheaquain hadn’t seen Argie in six years and described their chaotic interactions during her visits, marked by her struggles with crack cocaine and heroin.
“When she came around, it would be chaos,” he said. “She was on drugs and she just wouldn’t be right. She had attacked my grandmother. It was already bad, but it went from bad to worse.”
Argie left and returned to Augusta, and he had not seen her since. He said she struggled with addiction to crack cocaine and heroin, and she required dialysis.
“She would do good and then as soon as she would get that urge, she would get back on the streets,” her son said.
He found out about her death from his brother, and the family felt a growing concern for her well-being when they didn’t hear from her around her grandmother’s birthday.
Despite their sadness and the challenges of her life, Sheaquain expressed hope for justice.
Bell is being held without bond at the Charles B. Webster Detention Center. He was arrested in June for felony possession of marijuana and released right away after making bond.
