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Family identifies local carpenter as murder victim

Posted at 7:41 PM, Apr 22, 2012
and last updated 2012-04-24 11:49:50-04

CHESTERFIELD, Va. (WTVR) - Family members interviewed by CBS 6 have identified the murder victim of Saturday's shooting as 24-year-old Joe Roane, although Chesterfield Police have not yet released the name.

The alleged victim, Joe Roane, according to family members, did not live at the place where he was found shot dead yesterday afternoon.

Roane, a local carpenter, and an employee at River City Diner, was found dead inside the Waterside Apartments of Chesterfield County, said police.

Rada Bonaparte, who said she has raised Roane since he was 13, was shocked that someone murdered him.

"I can't fathom why someone would kill him....he was so well-loved," said Bonaparte.

"At this point I don't think it's really hit everybody in the family," said his father Joseph Roane Sr.

Family members are piecing the final hours of Roane’s life together as they search for answers. They recall that Roane had gone out to a birthday party Friday night at a Japanese restaurant in Midlothian.

They claim that after having had several drinks, Roane shared a cab with Dustin Beaston.

Family members believe the two were headed to another party in the apartment of Philip Shaw.  They said Roane's last contact was from there around 2:30 Saturday morning.

Roane made a call to a female friend asking for a ride because fighting had broken out at the party, but the friend declined saying it was too late.

Roane was discovered dead inside the apartment around mid-day Saturday by Chesterfield Police after an anonymous call to the complex requesting that someone check the apartment.

"Nobody should be gunned down and left for dead," said Roane.

Lt. Randy Horowitz of the Chesterfield Criminal Investigations Division said that Phillip B. Shaw, a resident of the apartment, was later taken into custody after a search.

Horowitz said that police obtained and served warrants charging Shaw with second-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

He is held in the Chesterfield County Jail without bond pending his appearance in Chesterfield County General District Court on April 23, 2012, at 10:30 a.m.

Dustin R. Beaston, of the 5600 block of Benika Drive, was also charged in connection with this incident, said police. He has been charged with accessory after the fact.

"Who would do something like that, what kind of cold-blooded person, I just don't understand," said Bonaparte. She hopes the answers will bring justice.

"The detectives will find out why those two boys killed him I truly believe that," said Bonaparte.

We will have more on this story as it continues to develop.

The family has created a page to raise money to help with the burial costs.

Donations to the Joseph Roane Memorial Fund are also accepted at Central Virginia Bank.

Anyone with information should contact the Chesterfield County Police Department at 804-748-1251 or Crime Solvers at 804-748-0660, or text the code tip699 with the tip and send to 274637 (CRIMES).

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