In the spring of 2019, the community of Piedmont, Alabama, was unsettled by a sudden act of violence that resulted in the death of one of its residents. Joseph Solomon Nicholas Haywood, a 40-year-old male, was fatally shot on Tuesday, April 9, 2019. The incident occurred at a residence located in the 4000 block of Old Piedmont Gadsden Highway, a detail that marked the beginning of a homicide investigation.
Piedmont Police officers were dispatched to the scene following a report of a shooting. Upon their arrival, they discovered Haywood suffering from a single gunshot wound to the chest. He was quickly transported by the Piedmont Rescue Squad to Gadsden Regional Medical Center for emergency medical attention. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, Haywood succumbed to his injury and was pronounced dead at the hospital.
The investigation into the death of Joseph Haywood was swiftly undertaken by the Piedmont Police Department, with assistance from the Jacksonville State University Center for Applied Forensics. Their collaborative efforts soon led to a breakthrough in the case. The day following the shooting, an arrest was made in connection with the homicide.
The suspect was identified as 23-year-old Jessie James Beecham. He was taken into custody and formally charged with the murder of Joseph Solomon Nicholas Haywood. Following his arrest, Beecham was incarcerated at the Calhoun County Jail, with his bond set at $60,000. At the time of his initial arrest, a preliminary court date was scheduled for May 6, 2019. The specific details regarding the motive for the shooting and the relationship between Haywood and Beecham have not been made publicly available in the immediate reports following the incident. Information regarding the progression of the case against Jessie James Beecham through the court system, including any trial or conviction, is not readily available in the public domain.
