March 19, 2024

Burlington man convicted of killing bicyclist

BURLINGTON — A Des Moines County jury has convicted a 39-year-old man for fatally shooting a Burlington bicyclist last summer.

Joshua Royer, of Burlington, on Thursday was found guilty of first-degree murder for killing 50-year-old Eddie Martin. Martin was shot by someone in a passing car as he sat on his bike at a Burlington street corner around 3 p.m. on Aug. 6. Royer, who owned the car witnesses saw, did not testify.

Prosecutor Ty Rogers said after the verdict was announced that he didn’t want to comment on a motive, “because I really don’t know what it is.” Royer’s attorney James Beres declined to comment but had said in his closing argument that the prosecution’s case was full of holes.