MS man admits racing during Cruisin’ The Coast when he killed beloved grandmother, grandson

The Biloxi courtroom fell silent Tuesday as a mother tearfully recalled the day Izaun Cade Baxter got into a Highway 90 street race with another driver during Cruisin’ The Coast and crashed, killing the woman’s 6-year-old son and her mother.

“On Feb. 14, 2014, I brought this child into the world, and I was surrounded by my family, and most importantly by mom,” Sharay North said. “She and K.J. were inseparable; they were best friends. They were my everything. On Oct. 10, 2020, one decision to be the fastest car on 90 destroyed my life. A huge piece of me left that day that I can never get back.”

North described her son as a “bright-eyed 6-year-old boy” whose smile “could make the worst days the best.”

“In order to live my life, I have to forgive; I have to forgive because God requires it,” she said. “I have to forgive because I want to one day reach him and see my baby, my mom. “

North reminded Baxter that he had another chance to live the rest of his life doing good in the world.

“If you ever decide to do anything recklessly or potentially destroy the life of another person, think about K.J., about his little smile and all the life he had left to live,” she said. “Think about my mom, the sweetest woman who would give all that she had to save somebody else — the one who, if she had the opportunity today, would hug you and say, ‘It’s going to be OK.’ You see, their hearts are the reason I can stand before you today and say I forgive you. I hope one day you can forgive yourself.”

North made the remarks after Baxter, now 21, pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter during the commission of a misdemeanor offense, in this case, reckless driving, when he got into the crash that killed longtime Mississippi Coast special education teacher, Ollie Mary Halthon Armstrong, 59, of Pascagoula, and her grandson, Kevin “K.J.” North. K.J. was a first-grader at Cherokee Elementary in Pascagoula when he died.

Baxter entered an open plea to the crimes, meaning he did not agree to plea recommendations from Harrison County prosecutors, leaving the judge to determine the appropriate sentence.

Armstrong was headed west on Highway 90 at Myrtle Street and was turning at the Golden Nugget Casino when her vehicle was hit on the passenger side by Baxter’s SUV and rolled over.

Biloxi police investigated the cash and determined Baxter had reached speeds over 90 mph when he got into the crash that killed the grandmother and her grandson, Assistant District Attorney George Huffman said. A subsequent toxicology test showed Baxter was not under the influence of anything at the time.

Before imposing a sentence, Judge Christopher Schmidt also heard from Baxter and his family.

Baxter had never been in trouble with the law prior to the crash, according to his attorney, Michael Crosby, and the man’s relatives, friends, and co-workers. They said he was doing well in life, didn’t drink or use illegal drugs, worked in photography, was active in the church, served as a youth mentor, and had enlisted to serve in the Air Force before the crash.

Baxter’s mother said she sympathized with the victim and her family, prayed for them often, and had some idea of what loss was like since she experienced various miscarriages over the years. Her son tearfully apologized to the family, saying he thinks about what he did every day and thanked the victim’s family for their forgiveness.

Despite all the good Baxter had done in his life, Huffman said he still had to face punishment for his crimes.

Huffman recommended a 20-year sentence on each count to run concurrently, with ten years suspended and ten years for Baxter to serve in prison, plus a $2,000 fine.

“He was driving extremely recklessly on Highway 90, and I think that recommendation takes into account his reckless actions and the tragic consequences that resulted from there,” Huffman said.

Judge Christopher Schmidt followed the recommendation for sentencing but not after expressing how difficult it is to make judgments in such tragic cases.

“These are the mornings that judges hate having to wake up and come to court,” Schmidt said. “These are the cases that you wish you didn’t have to see sitting in this position, yet here we are, here I am.”

Before following the state’s recommendation in sentencing Baxter, Schmidt noted that both families are examples of people living by the gospel and “loving thy neighbor.”

However, he said, he had to make a ruling based on the nature and circumstances of the crime and the defendant’s history and characteristics and impose a sentence that adequately reflects the seriousness of the crime and is a just punishment for the offense.

“It’s important to realize, Mr. Baxter, that I have to impose a punishment based upon the actions of the person, not necessarily based on who the person is that commits them,” Schmidt said. “You punish actions.”

District Attorney Crosby Parker added, “This is a tragic example of how one reckless decision can have life-changing consequences for numerous people. This Defendant thought that it would be fun to race down a crowded Highway 90 and as a result two people lost their lives. A family lost a loving mother and son. While nothing can erase this loss, we hope that the Court’s sentence can help in the healing process.”