Man accused of shooting his roommate dies in Guilford County custody

The Guilford County Sheriff's Office says an internal review is under way after a man described in early reports as an attempted murder suspect accused of shooting his roommate died while in custody, and that North Carolina statutes limit what officials can release. The office said the Professional Standards Unit and the Major Crimes Unit are reviewing the incident but has not provided a suspect name, arrest date, or cause of death.

Deputies told reporters the sheriff’s office is investigating two separate in-custody deaths at the county jail. One decedent is identified as 65-year-old Jimmy Wilkerson, who was arrested Dec. 23, 2025 and was being held on a driving while impaired charge. Detention staff found Wilkerson in medical distress inside his cell on Dec. 24, 2025; he was taken to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment and later suffered a medical episode and died on Jan. 3, 2026, with his next of kin present at the time of death.

The second named death involves 47-year-old Nathaniel Rice, who was arrested Aug. 27, 2025 on charges described as including first-degree arson, resist, obstruct or delay, four counts of malicious conduct by a prisoner, and assault on a government official. Detention staff found Rice unresponsive inside his cell on Jan. 6, 2026; EMS responded and pronounced him dead that day. Officials have not released a cause of death for Rice, and deputies said the sheriff’s office along with the medical examiner is investigating both deaths.

The early headline claim that an attempted murder suspect accused of shooting a roommate died in custody has not been tied to either Wilkerson or Rice in available reporting. Wilkerson is listed in jail records and reporting as being held on a DWI charge, and Rice’s charges, as reported by deputies, do not include attempted murder for shooting a roommate. There is no publicly released material identifying the deceased suspect referenced in initial headline coverage.

Separately, Greensboro police arrested 23-year-old Ryan Jacob Spencer on Feb. 19, 2026 on attempted first-degree murder and multiple assault charges after a domestic-related stabbing. Witnesses described the woman running from a vehicle while a man chased, caught and began stabbing her, and police said a bystander intervened to stop the assault. Both the woman and the attacker were taken to a local hospital; the victim has since been released and Spencer remains in the Guilford County Jail without bond. Investigators asked anyone with additional information to contact Crime Stoppers, and local resources include the Guilford County Family Justice Center at 336-641-SAFE (7233).

At this stage the sheriff’s office is conducting an internal review through Professional Standards and the Major Crimes Unit while the county medical examiner investigates the in-custody deaths. Officials have not released autopsy findings for Rice and the office has cited state law as a reason for limiting information about the deceased individual described in early attempted murder reporting. Further details, including whether the unnamed suspect from initial reports is distinct from Wilkerson or Rice, remain pending release by the sheriff’s office and the medical examiner.