In the autumn of 2022, a tragic and violent sequence of events unfolded in Memphis, Tennessee, resulting in the death of 80-year-old Richard Skelskey. On the afternoon of October 30th, Skelskey, who was working as a Lyft driver, was found with a gunshot wound to his head. Police responded to a shooting report and discovered him lying in the street. He was transported to a local hospital but ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
The male victim’s death was just the beginning of a grim discovery for law enforcement.
Merely five minutes after Skelskey was found, another call came in, leading police to a nearby home. Inside, they found a second victim, Shunish Baggett, who had also been fatally shot in the head. The close timing and similar nature of the crimes suggested a connection, prompting an intensive investigation. The day after the shootings, a crucial piece of the puzzle fell into place when authorities in a neighboring county inquired about Skelskey.
This inquiry led Memphis detectives to obtain a subpoena for Skelskey's Lyft records. The records revealed the identity of his last passenger, 28-year-old Joshua Gossett. With this information, authorities swiftly identified Gossett as the primary suspect in both slayings. He was subsequently arrested and faced serious charges for the two killings.
Joshua Gossett was charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of both Richard Skelskey and Shunish Baggett. He also faced related firearm charges. The arrest brought a sense of relief to Skelskey’s family, who were grappling with the senseless loss of their loved one. His sister expressed her hope that her brother's death would not be in vain and would draw attention to the pervasive issue of gun violence.
