Bio

Richard Tipton was born on May 13, 1970. He grew up in a neighborhood in New York City, but details about his early life are limited. As he became a teenager, he got involved in gang activities and the drug trade. His life led him to become part of a drug-trafficking conspiracy that began in Trenton, New Jersey, around 1989.

Tipton, along with his partners, obtained large amounts of powdered cocaine from suppliers in New York City. They would transform it into crack cocaine and then distribute it through a network of street-level dealers. This operation expanded to Richmond, Virginia, in the early 1990s. In Richmond, Tipton became known for his involvement with other key figures in the drug trade, including Cory Johnson and James Roane.

The police eventually shut down their activities in Trenton when they confiscated a significant amount of crack cocaine and firearms in June 1991. Following that, Tipton moved to Richmond where he continued his operations, leading to increased conflicts with other drug dealers.

By the time he was in his early twenties, Tipton was deeply entrenched in a violent world of drug trafficking, which would eventually lead to serious criminal charges.

Murder Story

In Richmond, Virginia, between January and February of 1992, Richard Tipton and his partners in a drug-trafficking conspiracy committed a series of murders. The victims included Douglas Talley, Douglas Moody, Louis Johnson, Bobby Long, Anthony Carter, Dorothy Armstrong, Curtis Thorne, and Linwood Chiles.

On January 4, 1992, Tipton and James Roane killed Douglas Talley. They drove him to a secluded area, where Roane restrained him while Tipton stabbed him multiple times, leading to Talley's death.

Days later, on January 13, 1992, Tipton and Roane targeted Douglas Moody, who they believed was a rival in the drug trade. Tipton shot Moody as he attempted to escape through a window. Roane then chased Moody and fatally stabbed him multiple times in the yard outside.

The following day, on January 14, 1992, Cory Johnson was involved in the murder of Peyton Johnson at a tavern. After Roane had identified Peyon Johnson, Cory entered the tavern and shot him.

On January 29, 1992, Roane shot Louis Johnson, believing he had threatened him. Cory and another associate then shot Louis Johnson multiple times as he lay on the ground.

On February 1, 1992, Tipton's group was involved in the murder of Torrick Brown, who had previous conflicts with Roane. They knocked on Brown’s door and, once he appeared, opened fire, killing him and wounding his half-sister.

In a separate incident on the same day, Tipton and his crew targeted Dorothy Armstrong and Bobby Long. Tipton waited in a car while Cory Johnson and another associate approached Long's house, where Cory shot them both. Bobby Long attempted to flee but was killed in the front yard.

Later in February, Corey Johnson acted with Tipton against Linwood Chiles, whom he suspected of cooperating with law enforcement. They shot Chiles multiple times after forcing him and others into a vehicle.

Richard Tipton was charged with capital murder for the deaths of these eight individuals. In 1993, he was convicted of six counts of capital murder and received a death sentence.