Moise Joseph, Director of Science Lab and First Year
Experience Program.
Photo: Tallahassee Democrat
Florida A&M University Director of Science Lab and First Year Experience Program instructor, Moise Joseph, was shot and killed Sunday morning while protecting his girlfriend from her armed ex-husband.
“The couple was returning from a night out, when Sheldon Maurice Rogers, the woman’s 35-year-old ex, confronted her with a gun at her apartment home, located in the Lakes at San Marco’s complex on Woodville Highway at approximately 1:40 a.m. Sunday,” Officer David Northway spokesman for the Tallahassee Police Department (TPD) said. “The new boyfriend identified as Moise Joseph, stepped between Mr. Rogers and his ex-wife, telling her to run, effectively saving her life.”
According to the TPD, Office of Chief Micheal J. Deleo posted a detailed press release from the department on Sunday.
“After receiving a call for help at 4768 Woodville Highway, when Patrol Officers arrived in the area, they found Joseph suffering from multiple injuries including gunshot wounds,” Deleo said. Emergency personnel attempted to provide lifesaving measures, but he was pronounced deceased at the scene.”
Officers en route to the location captured Rogers leaving the area in a vehicle matching the description provided by the caller. He was taken to TPD for further questioning before being transported to the Leon County Jail on charges of premeditated murder and domestic aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
According to TPD officials, Mr. Joseph’s girlfriend was not injured in the incident. Her name and identity is protected under Florida law and will not be released at this time.
As the hours pass FAMU students, faculty and staff members mourn after the death of a fallen rattler.
FAMU biology and anatomy tutor, William Gram, a former classmate and coworker of Joseph spoke highly of him.
“He was a great leader. He kept the lab in order and made the lab a great environment to work in Gram said. “He made it family oriented. Everyone loved to come into the lab. It was a great learning environment because of him.”
Joseph not only had a great influence on undergraduate students in the lab, as a classmate he lead by example, obtaining his M.S. from FAMU. He was an inspiration and a helping hand for Mr. Gram as he worked to obtain his M.S. this past summer.
Over the last three weeks Mr. Joseph served as an instructor for the first year experience program, helping freshmen students transition from high school to college.
FAMU First Year Experience Coordinator, Lawrence Brown, said that Joseph developed a strong relationship with his students and that him passing away was devastating to them all.
“Over the last three weeks he had become a large figure in his classroom. His students became really attached to him,” Joseph said. “His death was a shocker to them, and to their credit. Almost immediately they began to plan a memorial for him.”
Planning for the memorial is still in progress. The memorial for Joseph will take place in front of FAMU’s Eternal Flame Thursday; a time has not yet been released.
The university is offering counseling services to students, faculty and staff impacted by the passing of Mr. Moise Joseph.
FAMU students may contact the Office of Counseling Services at (850) 599-3145. OCS is located in 101 Sunshine Manor Tallahassee, Fla., 32307.
The center is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. and offers extended hours on Thursday from 5-7 p.m. by appointment only.