Authorities have arrested June Antoinette James, 35, in connection to the death of her fiancé, Devon LaRoyce Shade, whose body was discovered in a wooded area in Augusta in April.
James is accused of fatally shooting Shade. The victim, 32, was found deceased on April 17 in a wooded area off McNutt Road. Richmond County Coroner Mark Bowen reported that his body had likely been there for several days. He confirmed Tuesday that an autopsy showed Shade was shot at least once, making the case a homicide.
Authorities say Shade and James lived together, and the investigation took a critical turn after James reportedly accused Shade of exchanging inappropriate messages with her daughter, with implications that the two may have had a sexual relationship. That allegation has not been confirmed publicly but appears to be a focal point in the case.
Devon LaRoyce Shade was born in Savannah, Georgia, and raised in Augusta and Jefferson County. He was known affectionately as “Shade” and attended Jefferson County High School, where he played basketball and football. During his junior year, he was baptized at Roberson Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Waynesboro, where he occasionally served as an usher.
After receiving a football scholarship to Albany State University, Shade later shifted paths and earned his commercial driver’s license in Ohio, going on to work as a long-haul, flat-bed truck driver. He was also a dedicated car enthusiast, especially involved with the Augusta Chapter of the Crown Vic Boys car club. On social media, he described himself as a “wheel enthusiast” and shared custom steering wheel designs with his followers.
Shade leaves behind his mother Deana Lynn Shade-Thomas, his father Eric Glenn Phillips, several siblings, and his paternal grandmother. He also leaves behind his 11-year-old son, Xavier Tilghman, who affectionately called his father “Mini-Me.” In a message posted to his father’s obituary page, Xavier wrote, “I love you daddy. I miss you so much. I will forever be mini me. Visit me in my dreams.”
Xavier’s mother, DeJaneé Tilghman, said she believes Shade was set up. She said he was expected to meet their son in Atlanta around the time of his death and that she was unaware he had even returned to Georgia from his trucking routes.
“I didn’t even know he was in Georgia. I thought he was still out of town,” she said. “He don’t do drugs. He don’t drink. All he did was get up, go to work, and call his son.”
Tilghman also said that by the time Shade’s family arrived at the home he shared with James, all of his belongings had already been removed.
A memorial service for Devon Shade was held on April 26 at Roberson Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Waynesboro.
On Tuesday, James was taken into custody without incident by members of the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force. She was later transported to the Charles B. Webster Detention Center, where she is being held on felony murder charges.
In a press release, Sheriff Eugene Brantley stated, “This arrest reflects the strength of teamwork and the importance of partnerships across agencies. From the initial response by Road Patrol to the diligent work of our Criminal Investigation Division and the support of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force and GBI, this case was solved through dedication and unity. We are grateful to all who played a role in bringing justice to the Shade family.”
Sheriff Brantley added, “We are solving the vast majority of our violent crimes and murders in Richmond County—well above the national average of around 40%. Let me be clear: Richmond County is not the place to commit a violent crime. We don’t stop until justice is served, and we will continue working relentlessly to remove violent offenders from our streets.”
