You meeting with the man who killed your brother?. October 3, 1984 - September 9, 2021 (36 years old) Warren, Ohio. Why take that kid to a hospital where no doctors were available? Murder of Ben Wilson Ben Wilson, an American high school basketball star from Neal F. Simeon High School in Chicago, Illinois, USA, was shot in the neighborhood surrounding the school during its lunch hour on November 20, 1984. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. Does anyone else feel behind because we lost two years due to pandemic? Benji bumped into them by accident and attempted to excuse himself, but Dixon and Moore wouldn't allow him to pass to easily. The words "Best in the Nation" marked his gravesite. To use this feature, use a newer browser. based on information from your browser. The two boys were brought into interrogation rooms and questioned by detectives for most of the night, eventually signing statements of confession. Facebook gives people the power. Really, it was probably her fault arguing over something stupid and trivial with Ben in the first place! Wilson's performance during his junior year and the summer thereafter left him to choose between scholarship offers from Illinois, DePaul and Indiana once the basketball world discovered just how prodigious his talents truly were. ". Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. Now, come on people you know what it is like to have a heated argument with somebody you dating. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/236651330/brandon-sherrod-wilson. If that happened to me or one of my fam members, I would own that place. Being Ben Wilson's son, he said, doesn't drive him on the basketball court in Chicago or anywhere else. His family was shocked when his serious girlfriend Jetun Rush gave birth to his son, Brandon, and though Benji was excited about the prospect of fatherhood, the couple frequently argued and Benji was suspended from school after accidentally striking a teacher during a confrontation. The city's murder rate has declined overall since 1984, but has seen a 27 percent spike this year, per Jon Greenberg of ESPNChicago.com. He served some years and was let out of jail in the late 90's. That idiot should have been given life. Brandon Wilson (c. born in 1978) is incarcerated on Death Row at San Quentin State Prison for the murder of 9-year-old Matthew Cecchi in Oceanside, California on November 14, 1998. Brandon accepted Christ at a young age. Media always says blacks are stealing and robbing when they arent. Benjamin Wilson has been sentenced to six years of jail for an act that he considers self defense. The conflict, however, was resolved before Moore got there. Almost immediately thereafter, she became withdrawn from Wilson and largely focused on taking care of the baby. Wow that was a very good documentary. I think Moore was thinking more about trying to have xes with Erica Murphy like any other 16 year old boy would. But she began to push away from him, and he became confused. As a junior, he transferred to Long Island Lutheran in Brookville, N.Y., where last season the senior guard-forward averaged 16.4 points and 8.7 rebounds a game. Moore was thinking more about getting with Erica Murphy and smoking weed. On January 13, 2022, Brandon Sherrod . Brandon Wilson is former Simeon star Ben Wilson's son. "Of course I'm proud," he said. Moore and Dixon's attorneys chose to present Wilson's celebrity as the primary reason for the charges against the two teenagers. Still sad for blacks who can't understand the system. Upon examination it was discovered that Wilson's aorta was damaged by the second shot and there was no blood reaching his lower extremities. That sh!t was tragic. After the week-long event, Wilson was ranked the number-one high school player in America. "It's still a free ride.". I'm glad they changed that sh!t. Join Facebook to connect with Branden Wilson and others you may know. Despite ample legal trouble, Sizemore had steady film and television credits. This story was so sad it's rare that I cry after watching a show, but I was in tears. Billy Moore, in the ESPN documentary about Ben Wilson, described what happened next. In fall of 2000, Wilson made an unofficial visit to DePaul during a trip to see relatives in Chicago. visit like Drake, Rihanna, Madonna. 40s. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. March 18 Basketball Player #2. With Kevin Durant now in the mix, the new-look Suns showed the Bulls just how much firepower they have. There was a problem getting your location. Stories abounded about "Benjy" shooting baskets into a garbage can at age 5, of how deftly he handled his burgeoning celebrity and of how hard he studied because he wanted to be more than just a basketball player. I'll admit, I believed Moore when he talked about what happened when Benji bumped into him, and didn't say excuse me. I want to make sure other young people dont have to go through the things I had to dealwith.. 171. According to Scoop Jackson of Slam, Wilson was the first Chicagoan to ever garner the honor, one that's since been matched by Kevin Garnett, Derrick Rose, Anthony Davis and Jabari Parker. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). [31] Former Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose, who graduated from Simeon in 2007, wore number 25, and the team won the state championship in 2006 and 2007. Chicago (March 18, 1967 - November 21, 1984) was an American high school basketball player from Chicago, Illinois. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? The defense attorneys for both boys denied the charges vehemently. His condition progressively worsened during the hours that followed, which led his mother, Mary, to have her son taken off of life support. At their trial, the prosecutors presented the same case theory to the jury when the trial began the following year. Its something I carry with me my whole life, Moore said. In the years since his murder in 1984, Deon Thomas, Bryant Notree, Calvin Brock, and Kendrick Nunn have all worn 25 during their basketball career at Illinois to honor Wilson. Moore and Dixon fled the scene, with Moore seeking refuge at Murphy's home. Wilson, a Neal F. Simeon Vocational High School basketball player, was regarded as the top high school player in the U.S. by scouts . Nick Anderson was the first to do so during what would've been Wilson's senior season and throughout his collegiate and pro career. The jury was only out for about one hour before returning guilty verdicts against both Moore and Dixon. No one can know the exact answer to that, but few people doubt that the 6-foot-8-inch Wilson would have been magnificent. At Simeon, the basketball team remained sequestered in the teachers' lounge for the rest of the day. Oh hell no. Please reset your password. The brothers of slain Simeon High School basketball star Ben Wilson are turning to forgiveness after their brother's death. As the 1984-85 season approached, Wilson, considered perhaps the country's No. [14] Brandon Sherrod Wilson, Jetun and Bens son would become a star player at Riverside Church and St. Francis Prep,[15] and Long Island Lutheran High School and would be recruited by the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, where he played one season. Chicago had over 600 murders that year? The two engaged in a loud argument, with an infuriated Wilson and Moore exchanging expletives. I am not buying the lie and you shouldnt either! The team chose to play the game, a rematch with Evanston, and won. They saw the king of the world., Mimi Faust confirms that Ex Fianc Ty Young had Affair with Drew from RHOA, New Mother KeKe Palmer is impressed with single mothers, Kim Kardashian and Kelly Rowland Work Out Together and Show Off Abs in Mirror Selfie, Jackson State University President Thomas Hudson has been placed on administrative leave, Thoughts from Ms. Going to Africa. Why do you think they were trying to rob him? Per the recommendations of the prosecuting attorneys, they both were given significant prison sentences. As Derrick Rose told KC Johnson of The Chicago Tribunein 2009: They tried to keep his spirit alive, not just in the program but throughout the whole school. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? He has been working on it for 13 years now. The Hawks mourn the sudden passing of Brandon Wilson, @ESHawksHoops alumn. After Derrick Rose graduated from Simeon in 2007, the school stopped issuing the number and in 2009, it was finally retired in honor of both Rose and Wilson. @michaelsobrien. To have the two families come together was amazing.. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] Background [ edit] Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? Meanwhile, Calumet High School student Billy Moore was outside Simeon's campus with a .22 caliber revolver looking to avenge his cousin, who had been allegedly robbed of $10 by a Simeon student. Simeon basketball player Jabari Parker had the number 25 stitched into the team sneakers during his time at Simeon. An argument ensued and Moore shot Wilson. My heart feels so heavy after watching that documentary. Brandon Sherrod Wilson was born January 13, 1984 to Benjamin Wilson and Jetun Rush. Jetun lied. Blues man Willie Dixon's grandson. Brandon eventually would pursue a career in law enforcement and became a police officer in Port Washington, New York. Moore now works as a case worker with the Inner-City Muslim Action Network and mentors young boys similar to his younger self. Try again later. [12] A month later, Moore was sentenced to 40 years in prison while Dixon received 30. Moore's cousin had been robbed of $10, allegedly by a student of Simeon, and he brought the gun with him to avenge his cousin. Like Rose, he's spent much of his high school career surrounded and protected by family and friends so as to stay out of trouble. English Read up on Brandon Wilson's biography, career, awards and more on ESPN. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. He served in the Port Washington Police Department for 5 years. That was the day Ben Wilson's life came to a tragic end. Wilson's recruiting attention has come mainly from lower Division I programs such as Hartford and Maryland-Eastern Shore, whom he said have offered him scholarships. Omar Dixon, 15, tried to rob Wilson, who resisted. We have set your language to When an athlete dies young, there is anger and a horrifying sense of loss, but also a nagging question: How good might he have been? I didn't go nowhere but to my friends' houses and home. The first struck Wilson in his groin while the second struck him in his abdomen and caused significant internal bleeding. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? Brandon also coached with Empire Athletics and his Alma Mater LuHi with his friends. Is my BEAUTY hurting me when it comes to graduate school interviews? What city did Ben Wilson live in? [8], At 12:37 PM local time, a call was placed to 911 for emergency assistance. Weve updated the security on the site. Jetun Rush would graduate from Simeon and Central State University as a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. [17], In July 1984, Wilson attended the invitation-only Athletes For Better Education camp in Princeton, New Jersey. Rush gave birth to the child, a boy named Brandon, over the summer. Family: He had a son, Brandon, with his girlfriend Jetun Rush. . What the hell is going on in our community such that ten fck!ng dollars is the impetus for settling a beef ? He also had a sister, Brelyn (Suga). Moore served 19 years and 9 months in prison before his release in 2004. In retrospect, I realized all great players run towards challenges instead of away from them.. [31] He also wore number 25 with the New York Knicks, after being traded. I dont want anyone to have this type of bitterness.. They made it a point to protect Wilson from trouble as he got older; as he was entering high school, the nationwide crack epidemic was in full swing and some of the people closest to Wilson, including his older brother Curtis, became addicted. But he really screwed up when he went up to Simeon to find who stole his cousin's $10 armed with a gun. Moore told the crowd he was sorry for what he did. He played professionally with the Long Island Wizards. Family members linked to this person will appear here. He claimed his sentence was excessive, considering he had not been in trouble before, and that he should not have been tried as an adult; while the court of appeals found his sentence to be somewhat harsh, they upheld the decision as a matter of law. Another brother, Jeff Wilson, was also present at the event, which featured clips from an upcoming documentary that chronicles the mens road to forgiveness, Both Sides of the Gun: A Story of Reconciliation.. "He's not your stereotypical shooting guard, but he'll get you some rebounds, defend and rough it up inside," Long Island Lutheran coach Ronn Hall said. [32] Following Nick Anderson's tribute to Wilson in wearing number 25 at Illinois, many others who graduated from Simeon and moved on to play for the Illini have carried on the tradition of wearing the jersey number 25. Wow. That hospital, St. Bernard Hospital in the Englewood section, was not equipped to handle major trauma cases and thus Wilson was not able to be seen by a doctor for several hours. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. "I'm excited," he said about Saturday's game, "but more so just to represent New York and myself.". Steele retired all six Padres batters he faced, then headed to the bullpen to throw 25 more pitches. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. Special friends; Ana Memic; uncles, Darrell Rush (Dawn), Peter Cashaw; great aunt, Patricia Cashaw; aunts, Tracy Person (Leroy), Erica McClay (Alton), and Alicia Rush; godmother, Marcia Kinnie, and a host of cousins, and friends. I will tell you why I think it was self defense. A 6-8 guard, Wilson drew comparisons to Magic Johnson. 30 For 30: Benji- Full Episode [VIDEO] | Hip-Hop Wired, Late basketball legend Benji "Ben" Wilson's son Brandon killed at age 34, NANCY WILSON Says Disagreement With ANN WILSON Over Band Lineup Kept HEART Off The Road Last Year. The trial began in the fall of 1985. Just as he was getting into his car, an ambulance arrived to the scene on South Vincennes. Ive learned to forgive Mr. Moore. That was just so bad. He used to joke about that and say basketball was his girlfriend.". A clip of Jeff Wilson giving the bullet found in Bens body to Moore as the two embraced, prompted the crowd to applaud. But Wilson said he agreed to meet with William Moore who was convicted in his brothers killing after his mother, Mary, asked the family to forgive him on her deathbed in 2000. "Who wouldn't be? I hate to say this, but I said it previously. 25 jersey while at Michigan. But now he's a hardened criminal probably because of the time he spent in jail for a crime he didn't commit. Try again later. Failed to remove flower. Jetun met and married Edward Rivers. This could explain why she refuses to talk to the media about what happened. Ive never seen anything like it, White said. Just get them out. Brandon was the oldest to two brothers; Jared and Jalen. Wilson's brother Curtis Glenn recounted in the ESPN documentary seeing his brother being wheeled by him in the hospital and noticing his feet were unnaturally pale. That same team also featured Tim Hardaway, a five-time All-Star and four-time All-NBA performer best known for his prominent role on the "Run TMC" Warriors of the early 1990s. Photo Credit: Ball Is Life On September 11th, 1984, Ben Wilson had his first child, Brandon, with then-girlfriend Jetun Rush. When this happened, it was a real tearing for me because Benji was like family to me, and Billy [William] is my real family, Moore said. The "Fab Five" later paid homage to Benji when Juwan Howard sported the No. Centennial, CO. View Full Report. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Join the Lipstick Alley 2023 NCAA Tournament Challenge. Prison officials did not say what Wilson, 33, used to hang himself. Chicago's violent crime rate was very high during this time as well, especially on the South Side. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. Wilson, a Neal F. Simeon Vocational High School basketball player was regarded as the top high school player in the U.S. by scouts and coaches attending the 1984 Athletes For Better Education basketball camp. Wilson's teammate Teri Sampson recalls that throughout the night, the reports progressively worsened, going from Wilson possibly recovering in time for the state playoffs, to perhaps missing a year of play, to possibly never playing again, to fighting for his life. 5. As Nick Anderson, a fellow Chicagoan who would've been Wilson's teammate at Simeon, told Scoop Jackson: Benji was Magic Johnson, but with a jump shot. [8] Wilson began playing basketball in elementary school. That status was partly a tribute to his gifts for the game and partly the awful handiwork of the two punks. His father was Ben Wilson, who in just 17 years managed to become a basketball legend. The hospital was not a trauma center. After watching the documentary I am even more convinced of their innocence. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. Brandon moved to New York with his mother, Jetun, and his stepfather, New York City police officer Edward Rivers, when he was in 6th grade. Kristen Doute posts pic supporting Ariana Madix, the woman who STOLE her live-in-boyfriend of 6.5 yrs very A. Keys/Mashonda-ish, FREE GAME FRIDAY: Adults who had to raise themselves. Once they were informed that Wilson had died, his teammates were asked whether or not they wanted to go forward with their season opener, which was scheduled for later on against the team they defeated to win the state championship in 1984, Evanston Township; they won the game. [29] Brandon died after he swerved into a shoulder on the Northern State Parkway, and hit a pole and two trees.[30]. While waiting outside while Erica was in the store a upset and angry Ben Wilson and girlfriend come up from behind Moore arguing. His stepfather got him involved in basketball about a year later, and Brandon started playing for the famed Riverside Church program in Manhattan and at St. Francis Prep in Queens. Benji's rise to the top spot came after leading Simeon to the first Illinois state title in school history. Benjamin Wilson, Jr. was a legend in his own time and his untimely death on November 20, 1984 at St. Bernard Hospital leaves a void in all who loved and revered Benjy. Jayla White, a sophomore point guard on Simeons varsity girls team, was moved by what she saw from Moore and the Wilsons. If she wasnt able to forgive, I dont think her sons wouldve.. A lot of people looked to Ben's life to find away out. Chicago, Illinois high school basketball player, University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign, "A Rising Star, Extinguished, in 1980s Chicago", Chicken Soup for the Soul: Inside Basketball: 101 Great Hoop Stories from , By Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Pat Williams, The Great Book of Chicago Sports Lists, By Dan McNeil, Ed Sherman, "Life of "Benji" Comes Full Circle in Chicago", "Ben Wilson: A Life Cut Short but the Memories Remain", "What if Ben Wilson had Lived And Become a Flyin' Illini? Add to your scrapbook. According to Billy Moore, Dixon had nothing to do with anything. Behind Wilson, Simeon defeated West Aurora High School by nine points in the semifinals and beat top-ranked Evanston Township High School to win their first ever state title. Edward E. Rivers served for 25 years for the New York Police Department. He leaves to mourn: his mother, Mary; his father, Benjamin, Sr.; brothers: Brumet and Curtis Glenn, Jeffery (11) and Anthony (8) Wilson and a two month old son, Brandon Wilson. On November 20, 1984, Wilson decided against lunching with teammates as he wanted to talk to his girlfriend, Jetun Rush, with whom he had been having significant issues. It was during the Prairie State Games at Illinois State University that Benji first had the opportunity to play with Nick Anderson, a 6'6" wing who went on to play at Illinois and enjoy a productive career in the NBA with the Orlando Magic, the Sacramento Kings and the Memphis Grizzlies. He was the only non-senior on a squad that upset previously-undefeated Evanston at Assembly Hall in Champaign in the final. Ben Wilson was angry about something with Jetun, his girlfriend. [16] Wilson was described as "Magic Johnson with a jump shot" by his Simeon coach, Bob Hambric. Brandon was a graduated of Long Island Lutheran High School. That boy could be alive today if not for that. But it seems like so many variables were involved. He played one season for UMES. Murphy met up with the two boys shortly thereafter, and Moore and Dixon followed her to a luncheonette on South Vincennes Avenue. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. 25 his father made famous almost two decades ago. Jabari Parker, another Chicago native and the No. That's the number that Benji wore during his prep career, and that has since become a factoid of Chicago basketball lore in its own right. Brandon enters and graduated from the Long Island Police Academy following in his Pops footsteps to become a police officer. That stuff doesn't play a role. Im white!. This - 1000x's. Much like Kevin Durant and Anthony Davis, Benji began his high school career as a guardin his case, a point guardbut eventually outgrew his position, albeit without leaving behind his perimeter skills. He would eventually receive parole in 2005. I just wanted to stay out of the negative. i dont buy billy moore's story, it was to perfect making him out to be the 'victim', the fact they cut school was armed with a gun and went to that school looking for a kid over 10 dollars tells me they were up to no good.i believe they decided to rob benji, him already being upset with his girlfriend he probably wasnt in his right mind frame and didnt think about this kid has a gun maybe he should back down. Ben Wilson was one of three children born to Ben Wilson Sr. and Mary (Gunter) Wilson and was raised in the Chatham neighborhood on Chicago's South Side. Chicago has produced many a great basketball player over the years. "He has a 6-6 arm span and an appetite for contact, and he's tremendous in transition. That passion produced a player Dildy insists was better in high school than current NBA stars Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. [15] As his senior season approached, it was believed that Wilson was considering scholarship offers from the University of Illinois, DePaul University and Indiana University.[17]. So many problems, causes and affect for them. From left, former U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Rapper Common, William Moore, and Anthony and Jeffrey Wilson, speak at Malcolm X College, during a conversation and private screening of Both Sides of the Gun, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020, in Chicago. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. When Mama Wilson said I forgive you, that started everything. Later on, however, Jabari Parker suggested that Wilson's name and number be stitched into the sneakers the players were issued. "He's the spitting image of his father," Dildy said of Brandon. But it was said that they had some sort of toxic relationship and was advised to separate. It's estimated that 8,000 people attended Benji's wake at the Simeon gym on November 23, three days after he was gunned down, and that around 10,000 showed up to his funeral on November 24 at Operation PUSH headquarters. Omar Dixon's conviction was struck down on appeal and he received a new trial in 1989, but was again convicted. Brandon Wilson, who was on death row for the 1998 ambush slaying of a 9-year-old boy in Oceanside, was found dead Thursday hanging in his cell at San Quentin State Prison, state corrections officials said. Maybe us outsiders looking in don't know the whole story. Moore 5'9" 165lbs and Dixon 5'11" would not go up to a 6'8" 239 lb angry man and dig in his pockets. Wilson then lunged at Moore, who responded by firing two shots at him. "He probably was the best player I've ever seen in high school.". The wrong time for another loss, as the Bulls were now two games out of a play-in spot. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. [31] Juwan Howard wore 25 at the University of Michigan as a tribute to Wilson. Uncle by heart, Napoleon Morales; aunts by heart, Phyllis Holiday, Pamela Shannon, and mothers sorority sisters of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, especially line sister of "Mass Confusion. Port Washington police officer killed in Northern State crash You tell me what type of money Benji was going to have on him? The documentary recalls the tragic story of Ben Wilson, the No. From what . Before leaving to join Team Israel, Cubs prospect Matt Mervis shared why this WBC means so much to him. Damn BRAT! Not that Brandon necessarily could've. Rest in Peace Ben Wilson March 18, 1967-November 21, 1984 tragically gunned down after receiving a basketball scholarship to the University of Illinois. The prosecutors also tried to introduce evidence that the boys were members of a street gang, but were precluded from doing so.[11]. Dildy played basketball with Wilson in a South Side park just a few days before the shooting. In fact, Parker recently worked with Jordan Brand to design a special shoe for the Simeon basketball team with Wilson's number on it. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. He also expressed that he felt both of the defendants were being "railroaded" by overzealous law enforcement officials whose desperation to hold someone accountable for the murder of a star athlete compromised their integrity and led them to create false case theory. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. Fat dude whose packing or good looks? [11] During the 198283 season, he was the only sophomore on the varsity basketball team. Mood ruined. Anthony Wilson (left) and Jeffrey Wilson, discussed Both Sides of the Gun, a documentary about their reconciliation with their brothers killer, on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020, in Chicago. I am sure she was angry that her meal ticket just died and she was going to make Dixon and Moore pay so she lied on them in court. The Ben Wilson tribute page on Facebook confirmed his death.