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RH man charged with murder
Aug. 14 arrest after shooting at Butler Road residence
Wayne Grimes
Police mugshot of Wayne Grimes.

A Richmond Hill man is charged with murder for fatally shooting a man Friday night following an argument that witnesses said started over a woman.

Wayne Lee Grimes, 42, of 115 Butler Road, is currently at Bryan County Jail, according to Bryan County Sheriff’s Office Detective J.D. Davis, who is handling the investigation.

Davis said Grimes admitted to shooting James Eric Hensley, 45, of 35 Butler Road. He said there are two witnesses to the incident, both relatives of Grimes.

Hensley, who was unarmed, was shot once in the chest with a .22 caliber rifle at some point before a witness called 911 at 9:56 p.m. Friday.

Deputies arrived roughly five minutes later and found Hensley laying in Grimes’ front yard being tended to by one of Grimes’ relatives. Hensley was taken by Bryan County EMS to Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah, where he was pronounced dead at 10:55 p.m. Friday.

Grimes is in Bryan County Jail awaiting a first appearance before a Superior Court judge.

An initial incident report from BCSO said the two argued over a woman earlier Friday and Hensley went home, but later was told Grimes “was being aggressive and may hit (his own) mother,” which reportedly prompted Hensley to go back to Grimes’ house.

There, Hensley found Grimes waiting on the front porch with the rifle, the report said.

“As (Hensley) approached, (Grimes) said I got something for you and pointed the rifle towards (Hensley),” who told him to shoot, the report continued. Grimes allegedly fired one shot, hitting Hensley in the chest, and then ran inside and locked the door.

The witnesses told deputies Hensley was able to get onto the front porch and Grimes reportedly opened the living room window and told Hensley he’d shoot him again, but a witness got in the way and prevented it.

Hensley then left the porch and laid down on the ground. Grimes allegedly showed deputies where to find the gun he used, hidden in bedroom behind a door.

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