Gunman convicted of killing former Olympics boxer
A 29-year-old man was convicted of first-degree murder Wednesday in the 2008 slaying of former Olympic boxer Rhoshii Wells.
After a weeklong trial, a Clark County jury convicted Roger Randolph of the fatal shooting of Wells, a 31-year-old father of five and a bronze medal winner at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
Randolph was eligible for the death penalty, but prosecutors after the verdict decided not to seek capital punishment.
Randolph faces 20 to 50 years in prison, 20 years to life in prison, or life in prison without parole. A judge will decide his sentence at a hearing set for May 2, records show.
Wells was shot Aug. 11, 2008, as he walked through an apartment complex at 531 N. Lamb Blvd. with his then 4-year-old son, Prince. The boy’s mother later said that after calling for help, Prince sprawled on top of his father trying to wake him up.
Authorities said Randolph shot and killed Wells after the two men argued, possibly over a dice game.
In a 2008 interview with the Review-Journal, Randolph said he shot and killed Wells in self-defense after Wells punched him and robbed him of $100. It’s unclear whether Wells even knew why Randolph was angry with him.
According to authorities, Randolph left to retrieve a rifle after the argument. He returned a few minutes later and fired at least three shots at Wells.
In a jail interview, Randolph said, “I put the gun on him. I told him, ‘Are you for real.’ I fired like three times, three times, three times. He got hit the third time.”
Randolph was arrested two days after the shooting by Arizona troopers on U.S. Highway 93 about 15 miles north of Kingman, Ariz. Defense lawyers said Randolph was mentally retarded and suffered brain damage at age 18 after being struck by a semi-truck.
Wells’ professional record was 18-2 with 10 knockouts. His last professional bout was in 2005. His family said he was training for a comeback.
Contact reporter Francis McCabe at
fmccabe@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.
