GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA – A tragic incident unfolded at a convenience store on Sandy Ridge Road, resulting in the death of off-duty Sergeant Philip Dale Nix. The sergeant was fatally shot while intervening in a shop robbery involving three suspects.
The alleged shooter, 18-year-old Jamere Justice Foster, reportedly confronted Sergeant Nix when he attempted to stop the trio from stealing beer worth $83.45 from the Sheetz store. Despite efforts from a second off-duty officer and a paramedic, Nix succumbed to his injuries in the hospital after Foster allegedly shot him.
An emotional statement from Greensboro Police Chief John Thompson described Nix as a dedicated officer with 22 years of service. The community is reeling from the loss, with Mayor Nancy Vaughan expressing anger and sadness, calling the shooting a “senseless act of violence.”
Foster, along with 28-year-old John Walter Morrison and 18-year-old Zquriah Lepearce Blackwell, are facing charges in relation to the incident. Foster is charged with felony first-degree murder, while Morrison and Blackwell are facing various charges such as conspiracy, misdemeanor larceny, and felony accessory after the fact to first-degree murder.
The gravity of this tragic event is further emphasized by the revelations that Blackwell allegedly helped Foster escape after the shooting and facilitated the selling of the stolen goods, as per a warrant for her arrest. This devastating loss has not only impacted the police department but also Nix’s own family, many of whom are also in law enforcement.
The community now mourns the loss of a dedicated public servant and seeks justice for Sergeant Nix’s untimely death, rallying around his family and fellow officers during this challenging time in Greensboro, North Carolina.