Suspect cleared in 2021 killing at Augusta Waffle House
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - A Richmond County jury has acquitted a suspect of murder and other charges he faced in connection with a fatal shooting at a Waffle House on Gordon Highway.
A jury on Thursday cleared Andrew Deon Gaines of the charges he’d faced in the slaying of 32-year-old Nicklaus Wilson on March 22, 2021, outside the restaurant at 1629 Gordon Highway.
Gaines had been charged with malice murder, felony murder possession of a firearm during commission of a felony and theft by taking, according to District Attorney Jared Williams.
Prosecutors had claimed at his bond hearing that the whole incident was captured on a security camera.
Authorities said Gaines and two other people had gone to the restaurant to pick up food. Authorities said Gaines was in the backseat when a male subject approached the car. After a brief discussion, he walked away and approached Wilson, who then approached the car.
Investigators at the time said Wilson may have flashed a firearm at Gaines while backing away from the car.
At a hearing soon after the incident, Gaines’ attorney argued that the suspect acted in self-defense and that the defense would be defending the case “aggressively” before a jury.
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