Beloit Police Chief Norm Jacobs provided updates on homicides in the city over the last year, and gave some new information on the violence during the city council meeting Monday night.
The city had eight homicides in 2014, and one so far this year.
On April 25 Edward Damont Haley, 36, was found shot to death in the 2100 block of Newark Road. Jacobs said police believed the crime was drug-related, and there were multiple suspects that knew the victim.
“We have a crime gun being tested in a lab, and we have four persons of interest,” Jacobs said. “Two people are in custody for other crimes. We are waiting for court action.”
Also on April 25 Raymond Holloway, 20, was shot and killed in the 500 block of Highland Avenue. Jajuan Logan, 20, was sentenced in December to 12 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to the shooting. A second suspect, Angelo Young, 31, is still being sought, and there is still a Crime Stoppers reward for information leading to his arrest, Jacobs said.
Sheila Rosenbaum, 47, was killed when she was run over by her own van in the 900 block of 10th Street. Christopher Rutherford, 40, is scheduled to go on trial for the murder on Feb. 16.
The fourth homicide occurred on May 22 in the 1400 block of Hull Avenue where Jeffrey Hardnett, 25, was shot and killed. Jacobs said the case has been referred to the Rock County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution, but he would not elaborate on any more information. He added there was money involved with the crime, and police are working on reconciling evidence and witness statements.
Jennifer Falcon, 44, was found shot to death on July 20 near the intersection of Woodward and White avenues. Detectives have developed a suspect in the case, and there are two other people of interest who have been arrested on other charges not related to the homicide.
“That’s usually how it works to put pressure on people,” Jacobs told the council. “The reason I tell you that is, it is a bit of a reassurance to the community that the persons that have done these crimes are often in jail by the time we are able to get a case against them. They weren’t random acts ofviolence.”
The sixth homicide involved Jose Israel Carruthers-Paramo, 16, who was shot and killed on Aug. 2 in Summit Park. Jacobs said the victim was allegedly committing a robbery when he was shot.
“No one is talking in that case, and one injured witness claimed no knowledge of the incident,” Jacobs said.
On Aug. 7 Hy’kyme Hayes was found shot in the 500 block of Eighth Street, however, his death was later ruled a suicide. Jacobs did say the gun used in the suicide matched a firearm used in a shooting on St. Lawrence Avenue in the city that had occurred a few months prior.
On Aug. 25, Bruce Hemmy, 58, was found beaten to death with a hammer at his home in the 2200 block of Sunshine Lane. His son, Peter Hemmy, 30, has been charged with first degree intentional homicide in the case. Peter Hemmy is scheduled to be in Rock County Circuit Court for a competency hearing on Feb. 11.
Joe’l Paul P. Baldwin Davidson Royster, 24, died of a gunshot wound on Nov. 23 in the 1200 block of Copeland Avenue. Jacobs said it appeared the shooting was the result of an attempted robbery, and four people were on the scene.
On Jan. 19 Terez Herd, 23, died at the hospital after he was shot near the intersection of Porter Avenue and Randall Street. A 17-year-old male and Arsheal Gill, 20, were also injured in the incident. Jacobs said a police officer was only a block away when he heard the shooting, and learned the incident was allegedly over a woman.
“We recovered two weapons and a facsimile weapon at the scene,” Jacobs said.
He said all the incidents remain under investigation, and no other information could be released at this time. Beloit Daily News.