In March of 2019, the family of 18-year-old Gerald Antonio Beamon reported him missing. Two days later, on April 1, 2019, his body was discovered in a vacant apartment on North Ruckle Street in Indianapolis. He was found face down with multiple shell casings surrounding him. An investigation into his death would reveal a tragic story of a friendship that ended in a fatal betrayal.
Gerald Beamon, a Black male, was last seen by his family walking toward the vacant apartment with his high
school friend and coworker, Ron-Ricco Duncan. Witnesses later reported hearing gunshots about thirty minutes after the two were seen together. The investigation uncovered communications on social media between Duncan and Beamon leading up to the deadly encounter. It was revealed that the two had planned to rob a marijuana dealer. Duncan had instructed Beamon to bring a firearm. However, the plan took a dark turn, and Beamon himself was shot and killed during the robbery he had helped to orchestrate. In a twist, the man they had intended to rob was not charged as it was determined he acted in self-defense.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Ron-Ricco Duncan reportedly spoke about Beamon's death to friends on social media. During police interviews, Duncan's story changed multiple times. Initially, he gave conflicting accounts of what happened. He eventually admitted to his role in setting up the robbery that led to his friend's death.
Ron-Ricco Duncan was arrested and charged with felony murder and attempted armed robbery for his involvement in Gerald Beamon's death. In April 2022, a court found Duncan guilty as charged. He was subsequently sentenced to 50 years in prison, with 48 of those years to be served in the Indiana Department of Correction. The conviction and sentencing brought a close to the legal chapter of a case that highlighted the devastating consequences of a robbery plan gone wrong.
