How are Wilco’s crime statistics trending?

Knock on wood, but nearly 21 months have passed since Wilkinson County recorded its last homicide.

Since 2018, all totaled, Wilco has recorded seven homicides (one in 2023, two in 2022, one in 2021, one in 2020, none in 2019 and none in 2018), which equates to .7 per year.

The county-level statistics for Wilkinson County on the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s website only go back to 2018, as Wilco isn’t officially part of any Metropolitan Statistical Area. However, crime stats for any Georgia county that’s part of an MSA can be accessed going back to 2009.

Here’s the breakdown for Wilkinson County, with the first number representing “murders,” the second number representing “aggravated assaults,” and the third number representing “burglary/theft.”

• 2023 – 1 // 15 // 42

• 2022 -–2 // 11 // 34

• 2021 –  1 // 13 // 39

• 2020 –1 // 10 // 52

• 2019 – 0 // 19 // 47

• 2018 – 0 // 17 // 84

Wilkinson County’s most recent homicide occurred on July 8, 2023. The defendant in that case is Ricky Lee Shinholster, and his case continues to meander through the court system. Multiple trial dates have been scheduled and subsequently postponed.

Shinholster and his attorney, Carl Cansino of Milledgeville, appear intent on taking the case to trial. Cansino has filed a number of items in the last few months on behalf of Shinolster, while the District Attorney’s Office also is making preparations, including finalizing its witness list.

The next trial week in Wilkinson County is set for June 16, although the trial week schedule still hasn’t been finalized.

Ricky Lee Shinolster stands accused of shooting his older brother – Ezekiel Shinholster – once in the chest with a 9-millimeter pistol following an argument. Both Shinholster brothers resided at the “family home” at 686 Farish Wood Road, an area sometimes described as Shinholster Quarters. The two brothers began arguing about which locks on the house to change, and the argument eventually escalated into a physical confrontation, according to investigators. A third Shinholster brother, who was visiting, attempted to break up the skirmish, at which point Ricky Lee Shinholster is accused of brandishing a pistol and firing once.

Ricky Lee Shinholster made bail in August 2023  before being indicted the following month.

Ezekiel Shinholster was 73 at the time of his death. He retired several years ago from the Milledgeville Road Department, where he was a supervisor.