Winston-Salem Man Pleads Guilty to Killing Greensboro Sergeant at Colfax Sheetz

Jamere Justice Foster, 20, of Winston-Salem, pleaded guilty Friday to second-degree murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon in a Guilford County courtroom, ending a prosecution that followed the fatal shooting of Greensboro Police Sergeant Philip Dale Nix. The plea hearing on Feb. 6, 2026 brought family members, department leaders, and community emotion into the courtroom as reporting outlets published differing accounts of the sentence to be imposed.

Authorities say Sgt. Nix was off duty when he intervened after witnessing suspected shoplifting at a Sheetz convenience store in Colfax. WXII12 identified the scene as the Sheetz on Sandy Ridge Road in Colfax, while WFMY reported Nix was attempting to stop three people who were stealing beer from the store. Multiple outlets described the incident as a confrontation that ended when Foster admitted to firing the shots that killed Nix.

Media reports conflict on the shooting date. WFMY and WUNC described the killing as occurring Dec. 30, 2023, and several outlets noted the slaying happened "over two years" before the Feb. 6 plea, which aligns with a 2023 date. WXII12 published a Dec. 30, 2024 date. Until court records or a police incident report are reviewed, the year of the shooting remains inconsistent in public accounts.

Final autopsy findings released in May 2025, as reported by WFMY, showed Nix was shot three times, in the chest, arm and hand, with chest and arm wounds deemed fatal. Medical staff attempted resuscitation for 41 minutes after Nix arrived at the hospital, and the death was ruled a homicide.

Greensboro Police Chief Thompson read a statement in court highlighting Nix’s service and character, saying, "Sergeant Nix not only wore our badge, he embodied what it meant to serve and protect, with honor and integrity and compassion." Chief Thompson added, "Sergeant Nix should still be here. With his family. With his colleagues." WUNC reported that the Nix family said in a statement, "The Nix family said in a statement that the outcome provides a measure of accountability and allows them to continue the process of healing."

Published accounts differ on the length of Foster’s sentence under the plea deal. WFMY reported Foster will serve 25 to 32 years. ABC45 reported consecutive sentences totaling 304 to 389 months for both charges, and WUNC said a judge sentenced Foster to up to 389 months. Those month figures convert roughly to a range of about 25.3 to 32.4 years. Local court documents and the plea agreement will be necessary to confirm whether terms are consecutive, concurrent, and what parole rules apply.

ABC45 noted earlier proceedings in the case and that three people accused in the shooting made initial court appearances, a detail that underscores the broader investigative and prosecutorial context. For Guilford County residents, the case highlights questions about safety at convenience stores, the risks posed to off-duty officers who intervene, and how prosecutors, victims’ families and courts resolve high-profile violent cases.

Follow-up reporting should include the Guilford County court minute entry, the written plea agreement and sentencing judgment, and the Greensboro Police Department press release to clarify the official timeline and the final terms of Foster’s punishment.