Brooklyn, New York – A young man who was shot three years ago while sitting in a car in Brooklyn has tragically passed away, leading authorities to consider upgrading the charges against the accused gunman to murder. Romel Jules, then 21 years old, was sitting in a Volkswagen Jetta near his home in Crown Heights when he was shot in the upper back in the early hours of April 25, 2021. The shooter approached the car and fired seven rounds at Jules, leaving him critically injured.
Jules was rushed to Kings County Hospital in critical condition. A GoFundMe page set up after the shooting shows Jules smiling in a hospital bed, paralyzed from the shoulders down and in need of stem cell surgery due to being “mistakenly shot.” The accused shooter, Maurice Williams, was apprehended three months after the incident on July 8, 2021. Williams, who was 22 years old at the time of the shooting, had a history of eight other arrests dating back to 2017.
Jules sadly passed away on April 9, and authorities have since classified his death as a homicide. Described by a relative as a “charismatic individual that likes to make people laugh,” Jules leaves behind a grieving community. With Williams currently detained without bail on Rikers Island since his arrest, he is scheduled to appear in Brooklyn Criminal Court on May 1 for further proceedings.
The tragic death of Romel Jules serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of gun violence in communities across the country. As loved ones mourn the loss of a young life cut short, the legal process moves forward to hold the accused gunman accountable for his actions. The Brooklyn community, already grappling with the challenges of crime and violence, now faces the aftermath of another senseless tragedy that has left a lasting impact on all those involved.
The memory of Jules, a young man paralyzed and ultimately taken too soon, lingers as a somber reminder of the need for greater efforts to prevent such acts of violence in the future. As the justice system moves forward with the case against Williams, the hope for closure and accountability remains ever-present in the minds of those seeking justice for Romel Jules.