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Two sentenced in connection with killing of Sgt. Philip Dale Nix

Greensboro police Sgt Dale Nix. Photo courtesy of GPD.
Greensboro Police Department
Sergeant Philip Dale Nix was with the Greensboro Police Department for 23 years.

In December of 2023, Sgt. Philip Dale Nix attempted to stop individuals robbing a gas station while off duty. One of them fatally shot Nix and was sentenced to up to 389 months for second-degree murder earlier this year.

The two other suspects, Zquriah Blackwell and John Morrison, both pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact to robbery with a dangerous weapon.

Morrison also pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact to second-degree murder.

Judge Jason Ramey sentenced him to 15 to 20 years, partly because of his prior criminal record.

Blackwell, on the other hand, was sentenced to 16 to 29 months and, according to Greensboro Police, was released for time served.

Rachel Moody is from Wake Forest where she got her start in journalism as an intern for The Wake Weekly. Before joining WFDD, she was a reporter and producer for UNC-Chapel Hill’s student radio program Carolina Connection. Rachel’s work has been published by WFAE, WUNC, WRAL and more. In 2026, she was recognized by the Hearst Journalism Awards Program for her podcast about body dysmorphia in boys and men. During her college career, she also wrote for The Daily Tar Heel’s opinion desk as an editorial board member and columnist.

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