In Beckley, West Virginia, a promising young Black / African American man's life was cut short, leaving a community in mourning. Jalen Laqua Joe, a 23-year-old male, was fatally shot on March 14, 2019, in what was described as a senseless act of violence. Remembered as a respectable and fashionable young man with a smile that could light up a room, Jalen was a father, son, and friend to many.
His sudden death left his family, including his mother, son, and daughter, to grapple with an immeasurable loss.
The investigation into his death led to the arrest of Ramon Edwards. It was revealed that the two men had been involved in ongoing arguments. This dispute tragically escalated, culminating in Edwards firing several rounds at Jalen, an act that Raleigh County Prosecutor Ben Hatfield would later describe as an "intentional killing with malice." The prosecutor's office emphasized that vigilante justice could not be tolerated within the community, regardless of any preceding disagreements.
In December 2022, the legal proceedings came to a close when Ramon Edwards pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the death of Jalen Joe. Raleigh County Circuit Judge Darl Poling handed down the maximum sentence of 40 years in prison. The prosecutor expressed satisfaction with the sentence, stating that it was the appropriate penalty for the malicious and intentional nature of the crime, bringing a measure of closure to a case that had deeply affected the Beckley community.
