'Nothing good comes out of carrying a gun,' judge tells man sentenced in 2017 killing

An Augusta man who shot and wounded two men and killed a third pleaded guilty to reduced charges Monday.

Sanquan Nipper, 29, pleaded guilty in Richmond County Superior Court to voluntary manslaughter, one count of aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. Judge Jesse Stone accepted the negotiated sentenced of 20 years in prison followed by 20 years on probation.

Nipper was arrested three days after a May 22, 2017, shooting at the Yellow Store on East Boundary that left 28-year-old Clifford Wright dead and two other men wounded. He was initially charged with murder, two counts of aggravated assault and weapon violations.

Because there had been prior difficulties between Nipper and Wright, the charges were reduced, said Assistant District Attorney Katherine Tobergte. 

According to witnesses, Nipper came into the store after Wright and pulled a gun. Wright tried to hide behind two men who were standing at the counter, and put his hands up saying "Don't shoot," Tobergte said. One of the men was shot in the hand and and a second was shot in the side. Nipper fired a third shot, which struck Wright. The victim was unarmed, the prosecutor said.

Not long before the shooting, Wright had attacked Nipper, robbing him and forcing him to strip, said defense attorney Ashantia Lilley. Nipper was carrying a gun because he was scared for his life, she said.

On Monday, Nipper apologized to Wright's family. It was a tragic situation, but he thought he was defending himself, Nipper said.

The victim's sister Brittney Wright said if he was truly sorry, he wouldn't have waited until Monday to apologize. Her brother wasn't a saint but he didn't deserve to die like that, she said.

The judge chided Nipper for taking the law into his own hands instead of calling the police if he had been robbed. The epidemic of gun violence in the community has to stop, Stone said.

"Nothing good comes out of carrying a gun," Stone said. "You don't solve problems with a gun, you just dig your grave deeper."