Savannah officers identified in Tuesday deadly shooting; new details emerge about their backgrounds

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - New details have emerged Friday about the two Savannah Police Department officers involved in a deadly shooting Tuesday morning in which a suspect was killed.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation identified the officers as Diamond Baker and Dorothy Overholt (Holt).

The shooting

According to the GBI, officers Baker and Holt approached a man for loitering around a closed business around 7:15 a.m. Tuesday, June 23.

Records show the suspect, Nicholaus Oxendine, had an active warrant out for his arrest and was on probation at the time.

The GBI said Oxendine attacked officer Holt and then attempted to attack officer Baker, at which point Baker shot him, ending the attack. Both officers were treated at a hospital for minor injuries and later released.

Officer Dorothy Holt

Officer Holt began working for SPD in March 21st, 2016 until October 21, 2021.

In 2021, a criminal investigation was initiated after her arrest on allegations that she hit her husband repeatedly while drunk on New Years. She was suspended for one week, and the criminal charge against her was dropped the following month. Holt resigned from SPD later that year.

Her POST file shows she was re-hired by SPD in 2024. As of April, she was placed on ‘probation’ for two years and remains on that probation.

Her post file described the April 3rd, 2026, sanction as “revocation withheld and placed on 24-month probation”.

Holt is not the officer who fired shots. Her attorney said she will not be issuing a statement.

Officer Diamond Baker

Officer Diamond Baker was hired by SPD in December and was still in training at the time she fired those fatal shots. She is in good standing with POST.

Baker’s attorney issued a statement to WTOC:

On behalf of myself and the Officer who reluctantly had to shoot Nicholas Oxendine we would like to first offer our condolences to his family. They have lost a loved one and we understand the grief they must be experiencing. Our hearts and thoughts go out to each of them.

Unfortunately, Mr. Oxendine’s very actions created the situation which cost him his life. He was non-compliant and assaulted both Officer’s involved in this case.

Mr. Oxendine put the Officer in a position where she felt her life and well being were in extreme jeopardy. The Officer involved acted in self-defense. We ask you to please wait for all the facts before any judgements are made in this matter.

I feel confident it will surely come to pass that this Officer was only doing her job to protect herself, her fellow Officer, and most importantly the Citizens of the Great City of Savannah.

Keith Barber, Attorney for Diamond Baker

The GBI is reviewing all the evidence in the case, which is standard. That review should be complete within 90 days. 

For a look at the suspect’s full background you can find that coverage here.