In the quiet, early morning hours of October 28, 2017, the life of 19-year-old Joseph James McDaniel, a promising male business management student at Berry College, was tragically cut short in his Rome, Georgia, apartment. Originally from Columbus, Georgia, McDaniel was a junior with aspirations of running his own business. He was known for his warm smile, kindness, and the ease with which he made friends.
The tragic events unfolded when two other 19-year-old men, Ricket Damon Carter III of Columbus and Troy Jamal Cokley of Riverdale, traveled to Rome to meet with McDaniel. An argument broke out between them, culminating in McDaniel being fatally shot. A neighbor reported hearing a single gunshot and then seeing a car speed away from the scene with its lights off. In the immediate aftermath, McDaniel's roommate, 22-year-old Andrew David Horton, admitted to hiding marijuana and drug-related objects before calling 911 because he didn't want the police to think negatively of his friend.
The investigation swiftly led to the identification of Carter and Cokley as suspects. They were apprehended in Columbus with the assistance of local law enforcement. Both men were charged with murder, aggravated assault, armed robbery, and possession of a controlled substance. Horton, McDaniel's roommate, faced charges of tampering with evidence and possession of marijuana and drug-related objects.
The case proceeded to trial in Floyd County in October 2018. The defense for Carter and Cokley argued that the shooting was an act of self-defense. A key piece of evidence presented was a recorded phone call from Cokley to his mother, in which he described the incident in those terms. After deliberating for just over an hour, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty for both Carter and Cokley on all charges. The community, particularly at Berry College, was left to mourn the loss of a young man described as a devoted and loving son and brother, whose life was full of potential.
