In the summer of 2016, a burst of gunfire on a Wednesday afternoon shattered the quiet of a Roosevelt, New York street, leaving a family grieving and a community in search of answers. Royston Hall, a 37-year-old Black male, was shot on Wagner Avenue on June 22, 2016. Responding to a 911 call, Nassau County police officers found Hall with a gunshot wound.
He was rushed to a nearby hospital, but the efforts to save his life were unsuccessful, and he was pronounced dead about an hour later.
The investigation into Hall's violent death led detectives to a then-16-year-old from Roosevelt, Malique Shelton. Shelton was arrested on January 19, 2017, not only for the murder of Royston Hall but also in connection with a string of other violent crimes. His alleged crime spree included the murder of another man, Gerber Hernandez, in November 2015, and the armed robbery of a Chinese food delivery person in November 2016. Shelton faced a litany of serious charges, including two counts of second-degree murder and one count of first-degree robbery.
Further investigation revealed a wider criminal enterprise. Corey Williams, an accomplice of Shelton, was also implicated in the series of violent acts that culminated in Hall's death. It was discovered that Hall had been robbed of marijuana before he was fatally shot. Williams was ultimately convicted on multiple charges, including first-degree murder and second-degree attempted murder, for his role in the crime spree. His conviction carried the weight of a life sentence, ensuring he would remain behind bars for his part in the violent acts that ended Royston Hall's life.
