Joseph James McDaniel was 19 and a junior studying business management at Berry College when he was fatally shot in his Rome, Georgia, apartment in the early morning hours of October 28, 2017. Originally from Columbus, Georgia, he was remembered for his warm smile, kindness and plans to run his own business.

Two 19-year-old men, Ricket Damon Carter III of Columbus and Troy Jamal Cokley of Riverdale, traveled to Rome to meet McDaniel. An argument escalated and McDaniel was shot; a neighbor reported hearing a single gunshot and then seeing a car speed away with its lights off. McDaniel’s roommate, 22-year-old Andrew David Horton, later admitted hiding marijuana and drug-related objects before calling 911 and was charged with tampering with evidence and possession.

Carter and Cokley were arrested in Columbus and charged with murder, aggravated assault, armed robbery and drug possession. At the Floyd County trial in October 2018 the defense said the shooting was self-defense; the jury acquitted both defendants on all charges after just over an hour of deliberation. Does anyone have information about Joseph’s last night or remember seeing a vehicle leave that apartment complex around that time?