In the late hours of a chilly Sunday, on November 23, 2014, the life of 24-year-old Joel Paul P. Baldwin Davidson Royster, a Black male, was tragically cut short in Beloit, Wisconsin. He was discovered with a single gunshot wound on the terrace of a residence located in the 1200 block of Copeland Avenue. Despite being rushed to a local hospital, he succumbed to his injuries.
The initial investigation by the Beloit Police Department led them to believe that the shooting was the result of
an attempted robbery. The authorities worked to piece together the events of that night, suggesting that multiple individuals were present at the scene of the crime. Their investigation pointed to a belief that the act was not carried out by a lone individual.
In the months that followed, a breakthrough in the case came with the arrest of 19-year-old Mickale Hicks. He was subsequently charged with felony murder in connection with the death of Joel Baldwin. At the time of Hicks' arrest, investigators reiterated their belief that he had not acted alone and that the investigation into other potential suspects remained active and ongoing. The search for others involved in the incident continued as the legal process against Hicks began.
