Authorities have charged 35-year-old June Antoinette James with felony murder in the death of her fiancé, Devon LaRoyce Shade, whose body was discovered in a wooded area off McNutt Road in April.
Victim Found After Days in Woods
Shade, 32, was found deceased on April 17, though Richmond County Coroner Mark Bowen confirmed his body had likely been there for several days. An autopsy revealed he died from at least one gunshot wound, ruling the case a homicide.
Investigators say Shade and James lived together, and the case took a critical turn after James allegedly accused Shade of exchanging inappropriate messages with her daughter, raising suspicions of a possible sexual relationship. The allegation remains unconfirmed but appears central to the investigation.
A Life Cut Short: Who Was Devon Shade?
Born in Savannah and raised in Augusta and Jefferson County, Shade was a well-known figure in his community. Nicknamed “Shade,” he was a standout athlete at Jefferson County High School, playing both 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, according to The Jail Report.
After earning a football scholarship to Albany State University, he later obtained his commercial driver’s license in Ohio and worked as a long-haul truck driver. A passionate car enthusiast, Shade was active in the Augusta Chapter of the Crown Vic Boys, often sharing custom steering wheel designs online.
A Grieving Son’s Heartbreaking Message
Shade leaves behind his parents, siblings, paternal grandmother, and his 11-year-old son, Xavier Tilghman, who referred to his father as “Mini-Me.” In a touching tribute on Shade’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, expressed disbelief over the circumstances of Shade’s death. She said he was supposed to meet their son in Atlanta around the time of his disappearance and was unaware he had even returned to Georgia from his trucking job.
“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 noted that by the time Shade’s family arrived at the home he shared with James, all of his belongings had been removed.
Arrest and Law Enforcement Response
James was taken into custody without incident on Tuesday by the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force. She is currently held at the Charles B. Webster Detention Center on murder charges. In a press release, Sheriff Eugene Brantley praised the collaborative effort that led to the arrest:
“This arrest reflects the strength of teamwork and the importance of partnerships across agencies… We are grateful to all who played a role in bringing justice to the Shade family.”
Brantley also emphasized Richmond County’s high case-solving rate, stating, “We are solving the vast majority of our violent crimes and murders—well above the national average… Richmond County is not the place to commit a violent crime. We don’t stop until justice is served.”
A memorial service for Shade was held April 26 at Roberson Grove Missionary Baptist Church. The investigation remains ongoing.