Police: Drugs may be motive in Aiken murder 12/1/2009 12:46 AM By KAREN DAILY Staff writer
More details have been released about the murder of an Aiken man found lying on the side of the road Wednesday after what appears to be a drug-related shooing and armed robbery.
A passing motorist reportedly found Donald Hickman Jr., 24, lying on the side of Green Road with multiple gunshot wounds.
He was taken to the Medical College of Georgia where he was later pronounced dead.
Within hours of the death, deputies had arrested three men, connecting them with the murder.
Derrick Valentine, 26, of Biscayne Road in Aiken, is charged with murder, armed robbery and conspiracy to possess marijuana.
Kristopher Allard Reichardt, 25, of Middleton Drive in Aiken, is charged with murder, armed robbery and conspiracy to possess marijuana.
Michael Gary Smith Jr., 22, of Green Acres Park Lane in Langley, is charged with murder and conspiracy to possess marijuana.
Smith was hospitalized following the murder and released Monday to the Aiken County Sheriff's Office.
He was jailed at the Aiken County detention center.
Thus far, investigators have released only a few details about the murder and have avoided commenting on the motive; however, the warrants released by the agency Monday paint a picture of the crime scene.
According to the affidavits, Reichardt and Valentine were armed when they tried to rob the victim.
Investigators went on to say that all three murder suspects had conspired to walk away with more than a pound of marijuana after the Wednesday meeting with the victim.
It was about 5:30 p.m., however, that Hickman was gunned down and left for dead. Investigators have not said if he was armed and returned fire at the accused murderers; however, deputies have confirmed that Smith was hospitalized after the shooting.
It is still not clear if investigators are linking anyone else to the murder.
A passing motorist discovered Hickman shortly before 6 p.m. and reportedly called the sheriff's office.
Contact Karen Daily at kdaily@aikenstandard.com.
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Posted by: you know who I am On: Tuesday, December 01, 2009 10:37 AM
Comment Title: I have to agree
these 3 are known in aiken county as drug dealers and they should be put away for good I know one has been arrested so many time you'd think Mike hunt would throw away the key on him.
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Posted by: On: Tuesday, December 01, 2009 10:36 AM
Comment Title:
to april -500
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Posted by: Jim On: Tuesday, December 01, 2009 9:58 AM
Comment Title:
To April:
+1
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Posted by: april On: Tuesday, December 01, 2009 8:43 AM
Comment Title: put the thugs away forever
who cares what the motive was for the murder, point is these 3 thugs committed a crime MURDER. they need to all 3 be put away forever and i am talking the death penalty. they are known drug dealers on the streets of aiken county and now they are murders, why not get rid of the trash?
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