2 Richmond men facing murder charges after man found shot dead in crashed vehicle

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Two Richmond men are facing murder charges after a June 2025 shooting and crash left a 45-year-old man dead.

At 1:38 a.m. on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, officers with the Richmond Police Department were called to the 2300 block of Chamberlayne Avenue for a report of a single-vehicle crash.

When they arrived, officers found 45-year-old Antonio Nixon of Richmond inside a vehicle that had crashed into both a tree and a nearby structure after leaving the roadway near West Graham Road.

Officers discovered that Nixon, who was the only person in the vehicle, had been shot. He died at the scene.

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The department's Crash Team later found a bullet hole in the vehicle.

Just over eight months later, on Thursday, Feb. 5, police announced that two suspects had been arrested and charged in connection with Nixon's death.

Those suspects -- 24-year-old Arturo Friend, Jr. and 23-year-old Keshawn Cunningham, both of Richmond -- were taken into custody on Jan. 7 and Jan. 29, respectively. Friend surrendered himself at the Richmond Justice Center, while Cunningham was arrested with the aid of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force.

They have each been charged with murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

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No additional information on this case is available as of the time of reporting. If you know anything about this homicide investigation, you are asked to contact the Richmond Police Department at 804-646-3930. You can also submit an anonymous tip through CrimeStoppers either by using the P3Tips app or by calling 804-780-1000.