Joshua Watts

Joshua Matthew Watts was a loving son, brother, and father from Columbus, Ohio. The 32-year-old Black man was described by his family as family-oriented and was a dedicated father to his adored son, Jeremiyah. Joshua attended Groveport and Reynoldsburg high schools and worked for Scioto Vending. He was an avid sports fan who passionately cheered for the Ohio State Buckeyes, the Los Angeles Rams, and basketball star LeBron James.

On the afternoon of October 8, 2023, tragedy struck on the 200 block of Buffalo Court in south Columbus. Police were called to the area just before 5:00 p.m. for a report of a shooting. Arriving officers discovered Joshua inside a gray sedan that had crashed into a tree line. He had been shot and was pronounced dead at the scene. A second man was found shot in a nearby apartment and was transported to a local hospital in critical condition, though he later stabilized.

Joshua’s violent death was the second profound loss his family had endured in just five months. His brother, Byron Wilson, had died on May 2 from drugs laced with fentanyl. The compounded grief was shocking and traumatizing for his loved ones. "I can't sleep," his mother, Ruth Sims, said. "I don't feel like I'm even able to grieve. I don't know if it's even really hit me, to be honest. I feel like I'm numb." His sister, Symone Wilson, added, "It's really unreal that this is our reality because you see things and you feel bad for people, but you think it's never gonna be me, and it actually is."

In the days following the shooting, Columbus police identified 20-year-old Aaron Beamon as a suspect and issued a warrant for his arrest. Beamon was subsequently taken into custody and charged with murder in Joshua’s death. The case came to a close in May 2024, when Aaron Beamon pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and having weapons under disability. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison.