Post by Scumhunter on Nov 19, 2015 8:38:24 GMT -5
(Pictured: Above: Left: John Beamus Right: Pernell Dillard Photo Credit: louisvilleky.gov)
Louisville Metro Police are investigating a late night homicide in the West End of Louisville.
A wheelchair-bound man is shot to death in his front yard, along with his friend. The shooting happened on 28th street in the Parkland neighborhood.
John Beamus always sat in his wheelchair outside in his yard. He was killed while sitting outside last night at his house. Family members say only a coward could have killed him and his friend.
"He couldn't do nothing. I mean, what, that was a coward, I swear it was a coward that did it. he could've done anything, push him out of the chair but don't shoot him. Don't shoot him, he didn't deserve to die," said Terrica Beamus, John's sister.
32-year-old John Beamus was wheelchair-bound. His sister says he was shot nearly 20 years ago when he was just 13 years old. It paralyzed him from the waist down, but he did not let that affect his life. "He was very independent, he didn't want nobody doing nothing for him he could come down those steps by himself he could fix himself something to eat he'll go up to the park, do everything, go to the store. Just very friendly. Everybody knew him around here," said Beamus.
Neighbors say they always saw John sitting outside in his wheelchair, and would always smile or wave.
"I looked down there and I'm like, I'm not going to see him no more, not today. or tomorrow. or the next day," said Connie Anderson, who often waved to Beamus from down the street.
Beamus was shot and killed in his yard late Wednesday night with his childhood friend, Pernell Dillard, who was also killed.
"They are so cruel, they are so cruel, it had to be something," said a family member. "There ain't too many people out here that would do something like that to a handicapped person," added Beamus.
The family is grieving the loss of John and his friend Pernell. But it is not the first brother Terrica has lost to violence. "I just lost another brother 10 years ago to the same thing. Homicide," said Beamus.
Her brother, Clift Fant, was killed in 2001. His homicide is still unsolved. "My mother's three kids, I'm the only left. Only one."
The mother has now lost two of her three children, and had to see her son John dead last night. "She walked past her son laying out here in the wheelchair you know. Shot in the head. She had to walk past her son to get out of the crime scene," said Tanisha Sykes, a family member.
The family says they have not gotten justice from the murder 10 years ago, but are confident they will this time. "Everybody knows him, so whoever did it, it will get out. it will get out," said Beamus.
Police say they have no suspects at this time, but that someone may have seen something at the time of the shooting Wednesday evening. "We're hoping that with the large crowd that's out there that someone has seen something that could possibly give us some clues to the person or persons who committed this crime," said LMPD spokesperson Dwight Mitchell.
Thoughts? The above article is from 2010 and five years later this case is still unsolved. In one article, John Beamus' mother said she was dozing off at about 11:45 at night when she heard the gunshots so part of me wonders if this was a tragic case of mistaken identity and the shooters didn't clearly see who they were shooting at so late at night. Whatever the motive, this is a tragic and heartbreaking case and has went unsolved for far too long.
Admin Note #1: According to the louisvilleky.gov website, If you have any information that would help solve this double homicide, please call Louisville PD at or 502-574-LMPD (5673) or toll free at 1-866-649-4479. This phone number allows the caller to remain anonymous.
Admin Note #2: If you have any news-related updates on this case, please contact us here: amwfans.com/thread/1662/website-contact-form
www.wdrb.com/story/12968485/handicapped-man-friend-shot-and-killed
louisvilleky.gov/government/police/2010-open-homicides (scroll down or ctrl + f to search for Beamus and Dillard)
www.wlky.com/news/victims-family-still-seeking-answers-after-4-years-later/33742490