Bio

Richard Jameswhite was born in 1973. Jameswhite became known by the nickname “Babyface” because of his youthful appearance and small build. Police reports from the early 1990s described him as looking younger than his actual age. Despite that appearance, law enforcement considered him highly dangerous.

Jameswhite first came to police attention after the death of his brother, Glester Jameswhite, who was killed in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, in early 1991. Police later said Richard Jameswhite believed Kevin Smith was involved in his brother’s killing. In February 1991, Jameswhite was arrested in connection with the shooting of Smith, but he jumped bail and became a fugitive.

After that, Jameswhite was linked to the Parkside Gang, a Brooklyn group associated with robberies, drug disputes, and violence. Police said the gang operated around the south end of Prospect Park and was known for targeting drug dealers. By 1993, New York authorities were publicly seeking Jameswhite in connection with multiple Brooklyn killings and other shootings.

Murder Story

Between 1992 and 1994, Richard Jameswhite was linked by police and crime summaries to a series of shootings across New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Georgia. Authorities described the motives as including robbery, revenge, gang disputes, and drug-related conflicts.

In New York, investigators publicly linked Jameswhite to several Brooklyn killings. Among the victims named in reports were Javier Avila, killed on March 29, 1992; Omark Dee, killed on August 24, 1992; Fitzroy Reid, killed on January 6, 1993; and Ryan Cambridge and Dodson Sparman, killed on May 1, 1993.

In the May 1, 1993 double killing in Flatbush, police said Jameswhite rode on the handlebars of a bicycle while another person pedaled. He allegedly fired with guns in both hands, killing two men and wounding two others. New York police later described him as a fugitive who was willing to shoot with little provocation.

Jameswhite was also suspected in an armored car robbery in Flatbush in April 1993. During that robbery, a Transit Authority worker, Robert Singleton, was killed by a stray bullet during a gun battle between guards and robbers. Public sources identify Jameswhite as a suspect in connection with the robbery, but the available material does not clearly confirm a conviction for that killing.

On April 28, 1994, Jameswhite’s fugitive period ended in DeKalb County, Georgia. He and Devon Brown were involved in a minor vehicle collision with Anthony Maclin and Maclin’s fiancée in a restaurant parking lot. Because Jameswhite and Brown were fugitives, they did not want police called to the scene.

An argument followed over the damage to the vehicles. Jameswhite left briefly to try to obtain money to settle the matter. When Maclin’s fiancée turned away, she heard gunfire and saw Jameswhite holding Maclin from the side while Brown pointed a pistol. Brown got into the car, Maclin fell, and Jameswhite shot Maclin. Maclin later died from his injuries.

Jameswhite and Brown fled the scene. Police chased them to a nearby apartment complex. Jameswhite was arrested, and officers recovered two firearms from him. Brown initially avoided arrest but was captured the next day.

On June 23, 1994, Jameswhite and Brown were indicted in Georgia for malice murder and felony murder in the death of Anthony Maclin. Jameswhite was also charged with giving a false name to a law enforcement officer, but the trial court later directed an acquittal on that charge.

Jameswhite and Brown were tried together from December 5 to December 12, 1994. Both were found guilty of malice murder and felony murder. The felony murder conviction was vacated by operation of law, and both men were sentenced to life imprisonment for malice murder on December 12, 1994.

Jameswhite appealed, arguing in part that the evidence was insufficient and that the trial court should have severed his trial from Brown’s. The Supreme Court of Georgia rejected those claims in 1997 and affirmed the conviction.

Richard Jameswhite remains best documented as having one confirmed murder conviction in Georgia, while being publicly linked by law enforcement and crime summaries to as many as 15 killings.