On Saturday, Dec. 30, Greensboro Police Sgt. Philip Nix was tragically shot and killed while confronting alleged shoplifters stealing beer from the Sheetz on Sandy Ridge Road.

Nix was a supervisor for the Greensboro Police Department’s Family Victims Unit and was off duty when the shooting occurred.

Saturday evening, three suspects were arrested in Winston-Salem, charged with crimes related to the shooting and are currently being held in the Guilford County jail.

The three who were arrested are Jamere Justice Foster, Z’quriah Le’Pearce Blackwell and John Walter Morris. Foster has been charged with first degree murder.

The community has responded with an outpouring of grief and sympathy over the death of the Nix, who had served in the GPD for over 23 years.

Saturday, Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan posted on X, “Today we lost one of our own in senseless act of violence. Heartfelt condolences to his family & the extended GPD family. This will be felt for a long time. The impact that he has had in our community can’t be overstated. Thank you for the agencies assisting in this investigation.”

Gov. Roy Cooper ordered all the US and North Carolina flags at state facilities to be flown at half-staff through Wednesday, Jan. 3 in honor of Sgt. Nix.

Tuesday, Jan. 2, the Greensboro Police Officers Association (GPOA) issued a press release mourning the death of one of its members and giving people a way to offer support.

The press release states, “In honor of our fallen hero, the GPOA announces a memorial fundraiser for Sergeant Nix, which is hosted by Help a Hero. The link to donate is located at: https://helpahero.com/campaign/sergeant-philip-dale-nix-memorial-fund

The press release continues, “The GPOA appreciates the massive outpouring of support received from our community and people across the country. We will provide additional updates of the GPOA website located at www.greensboropoa.com .”