Testimony continues today in the felony murder trial of Julius Antonio Riddick Jr., a 22-year-old Augusta man accused of fatally shooting Reginald Johnson outside a Washington Road Dunkin’ Donuts in 2022.
Johnson, 32, was a passenger in a vehicle driven by John Lee Scarboro when a shootout erupted between Riddick and Scarboro the evening of Oct. 17, 2022. Johnson was struck in the head by a bullet and died. Scarboro suffered a gunshot wound to the leg.
According to trial testimony and court filings, the confrontation followed a chaotic encounter involving a check fraud scheme.
Scarboro’s girlfriend was meeting Riddick at a nearby BP gas station to retrieve a debit card she and Riddick had been using. The meeting turned volatile when Riddick allegedly pulled a gun and the woman fled across Washington Road with Riddick reportedly chasing her.
The gunfire erupted shortly afterward when Scarboro pulled his car in front of Riddick near the Dunkin’ Donuts. Both men exited their vehicles and exchanged gunfire.
Riddick and Scarboro were initially indicted together on three counts of felony murder. However, Riddick is now being tried alone. Both men have remained in jail without bond since the incident.
Scarboro, who was 35 at the time of the shooting, recently pleaded guilty to a lesser charge and testified for the prosecution on Wednesday.
