Fatal Beloit Shooting Raises Statewide Tally To 101 Gun-Related Killings This Year

A fatal shooting in Beloit on Sunday afternoon brings the statewide total for gun-related killing for the year to 101.

Police said that Joel P. Royster, 24, died from a single gunshot wound. His death is the sixth gun-related death in Beloit this year. The city ranks second to Milwaukee in the number of gun-related slayings. So far this year, more than 60 people have been shot to death in the state’s largest city.

Police have no suspects in Royster’s killing.

Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story said that Royster had served prison time and had been convicted for a firearms offense. That information was incorrect. Someone had stolen Royster’s identity in 2008 and crimes committed by that person, Tony Harmon, were listed on the state’s court access website as an alias for Royster. Royster only had a misdemeanor marijuana possession, a disorderly conduct and a domestic violence charge.