Augusta man Julius Riddick Jr. will spend the rest of his life in prison for killing Reginald Johnson in a parking lot on Washington Road.
A Richmond County jury deliberated about three hours Friday before reaching a verdict, finding Riddick guilty of two counts of felony murder and possessing a firearm while committing a felony.
The office of District Attorney Jared Williams issued a statement after the verdict and Williams heaped praise on the two assistant district attorneys who prosecuted the case.
On Oct. 17, 2022, Julius Riddick tried to turn the Washington Road corridor into the Wild Wild West. Angry over a failed bank scam, Riddick jumped out of his vehicle in front of the Starbucks and began firing wildly at an associate of his, Ashley Golden. She was unharmed, but the gunfire resulted in the death of Reginald Johnson, an innocent bystander. Today he was found guilty on all counts of felony murder by a jury of his peers and sentenced by Superior Court Judge John Flythe to life without the possibility of parole.
Said Williams: Jarryd Brown and Keagan Waystack are two of the most talented attorneys in the state, and they prove it every time they step in a courtroom to do justice for victims. I’m grateful they choose to serve our community.
Testimony elicited by prosecutors during the nearly four-day trial painted the picture of an angry Riddick pursuing Golden across Washington Road to retrieve cash he’d put in her account as part of a bank fraud scam.
In the parking lot connecting Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts and Days Inn, Riddick pulled behind the vehicle driven by John Scarboro, Golden’s boyfriend. Riddick jumped out of his car and began firing. A bullet struck and killed Johnson, who was a passenger in Scarboro’s vehicle, while Scarboro was shot in the leg.
Riddick took the stand Thursday and claimed self-defense, insisting that Scarboro threatened him with a gun first in the shootout and that he fearfully returned fire. However surveillance video viewed by jurors showed him emerging first, then chasing Scarboro, who had already been shot, and continuing to fire at him.
Throughout the incident, another man Riddick identified only as “CJ” accompanied him, wearing a mask and participating in the shootout. Riddick claimed he did not know CJ’s true identity and prosecutors said he has not been located.
Investigators would find 44 shell casings at the scene. Five were from Scarboro’s gun while the other 39 were from two guns that were never recovered. Riddick testified he tossed his gun in the trash at a Virginia apartment complex where he fled after the killing.
Representing Riddick, attorney Todd Mitchell said that Riddick’s fear was real. Scarboro had been armed and tried to cut off Riddick off in the parking lot, he said.
