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. Wilson began playing basketball at an early age, starting in elementary school. The two boys then decided to hang out for a little while and wait to see if Erica Murphy, Wilson's classmate and a friend of Moore's, was around. Brandon had a passion for coaching and playing which lead to a coaching position with Solomon Schecter School in Williston Park, NY., while also coaching the Rising Stars AAU program. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. Brandon Wilson. 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. At Simeon, the basketball team remained sequestered in the teachers' lounge for the rest of the day. He used to joke about that and say basketball was his girlfriend.". "He has a 6-6 arm span and an appetite for contact, and he's tremendous in transition. Benji first gained national notoriety in the summer of 1984, when he was named the No. Despite ample legal trouble, Sizemore had steady film and television credits. It may not display this or other websites correctly. How a friendly chat in the ladies of a London pub turned menacing for one woman. That sh!t was tragic. 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. Try again later. For the 198384 season, Simeon advanced to the Illinois AA State Championship, which was held at Assembly Hall on the campus of the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. [19] Moore and Dixon then fled. Stay Connected Keep Me . Also, it could explain why someone had said that there were 4 other girls claiming to be his "girlfriend" or who were "talking to him". On January 13, 2022, Brandon Sherrod . Chicago Heights, Cook County, Illinois, USA, North Hempstead, Nassau County, New York, USA. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. He had all the moves. Dixon later began an unrelated sentence for armed robbery, although Moore, interviewed in the 2012 documentary Benji, claims that his own confession was coerced, and that Dixon was not involved in Wilson's shooting. In the fall of 1981, Wilson began his freshman year at Simeon. 25 in 2009, ending a long-standing tradition at the school of the team's best player wearing it on his jersey to honor Benji's memory. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] Background [ edit] Ben Wilson, who died in 1984 in Chicago, was once rated among the best high school basketball players in the country and recruited by the University of Illinois weeks before his death. BW shouldnt have to continuously live in a state of silence in order to appease people in society, Mom of NYC teen killed subway surfing plans to sue MTA, Jon Stewart expertly corners pro-gun Republican: You dont give a flying f**k about children dying". [12][20] He was buried at Oak Woods Cemetery. In fall of 2000, Wilson made an unofficial visit to DePaul during a trip to see relatives in Chicago. You meeting with the man who killed your brother?. Early the next morning, Mary Wilson asked that her son be taken off of life support, and Ben Wilson died shortly thereafter. GREAT NEWS! But it was said that they had some sort of toxic relationship and was advised to separate. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? Omar Dixon's conviction was struck down on appeal and he received a new trial in 1989, but was again convicted. Family: He had a son, Brandon, with his girlfriend Jetun Rush. Legendary names like Isiah Thomas, Cazzie Russell, Mark Aguirre, Maurice Cheeks, Terry Cummings and Hersey Hawkins patrolled the hardwood and concrete courts of the Windy City once upon a time. That makes no sense and a lie. Jetun Rush was the prosecution's lead witness and testified to the same effect. Simeon Career Academy has done its part to keep his memory alive. Facebook gives people the power. Among those recent deaths is Michael Haynes, a former prep player in Chicago who was due to play college ball at Iona. [1] 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. Or, as those close to him knew him, Benji. He tried to excuse himself, but two of them were looking for trouble and words were exchanged. Anything can happen. Omar Dixon, 15, tried to rob Wilson, who resisted. But he really screwed up when he went up to Simeon to find who stole his cousin's $10 armed with a gun. I dont want anyone to have this type of bitterness.. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? Give a memorial tree. That city law was so stupid. Hope I dont get AIDS. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? The team chose to play the game, a rematch with Evanston, and won. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? Delivering Benji's eulogy at that ceremony was the Reverend Jesse Jackson, who'd been a candidate to represent the Democratic party during the presidential primaries earlier that year. The documentary recalls the tragic story of Ben Wilson, the No. Shortly after Murphy entered the luncheonette, Wilson inadvertently bumped into Moore since he had not been paying attention to where he was going, instead trying to talk to his estranged girlfriend. Just get them out. 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. Mood ruined. The 1984-85 team, which would have seen Wilson team with future NBA star Nick Anderson (whom he convinced to transfer to Simeon), went 28-2 without their captain. After word reached Simeon of the shooting, all of the members of the basketball team were called out of their classes and brought into the teachers' lounge where they were kept for the rest of that day. Im white!. 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. Vanderpump Rules fans do you remember when Ariana Madix slept with Lala Kent in the BACK SEAT of Tom Sandovals car? I am sure 6'8" 239 lbs Ben Wilson bumped into 5'9 165 lb Billy Moore and didn't say excuse me because he was in a heated argument with his girlfriend. Benji was survived by a son, Brandon, who turned out to be a decent basketball player in his own right. After those aforementioned greats, long before Kevin Garnett was a national name, and even before Derrick Rose, Anthony Davis and Jabari Parker were twinkles in their mothers' eyes, there was Ben Wilson. 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. "Who wouldn't be? Brandon accepted Christ at a young age. AGE. Wilson's temper eventually would get the best of him as he shoved a teacher to the floor when the teacher tried to break up another argument between the two. Billy Moore appears in the film to give his side of the story for the first time; he reiterated the claim made by his attorney at his trial, that he only shot Wilson out of fear for his own life. cemeteries found in will be saved to your photo volunteer list. This is a carousel with slides. I did it for the city of Chicago, said Jeff Wilson, 46. Benji was a 6'9" jack-of-all-trades swingman who's since garnered comparisons to Kevin Durant but who patterned his game after those of Magic Johnson and George Gervin. Jetun met and married Edward Rivers. 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. It looks like Brandon . Soon after the shooting, Erica Murphy returned to her home to find Billy Moore sitting in her living room watching television. He said that Wilson "dared" him to shoot once he pulled the .22 out and that he felt Wilson was just "punking" him by taunting him. Media always says blacks are stealing and robbing when they arent. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. 25 jersey for the New York squad to honor the father he never knew. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. I want to make sure other young people dont have to go through the things I had to dealwith.. In a way, Brandon has been better off playing in New York than in Chicago, where he no doubt would have faced endless--and unfair--comparisons to his father. Moore received a forty-year sentence while Dixon received a thirty-year sentence. [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. This is a sad story all around. This account has been disabled. "He's athletic, quick and strong, so he's going to help you.". For some time after Wilson was killed, Simeon issued his number 25 jersey to the player on the team that they deemed the best. Why do you think they were trying to rob him? It took a jury little more than an hour to find Moore and Dixon guilty of murder and attempted robbery. Moore also said that Dixon had nothing to do with the shooting. The prosecution's lead witness was Jetun Rush, who testified to that effect. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. He had one son, Brandon Wilson (b. September 1984),[24] with his high school girlfriend Jetun Rush. Moore was 16 years old when Wilson bumped into him as he was having an argument with his girlfriend Jetun Rush, the mother of his son, Brandon, on Nov. 20, 1984. Later that night, Chicago police arrested him there and shortly thereafter apprehended Omar Dixon. Unfortunately, he also knows the Wilsons pain of losing a loved one. Used To Live In. The words "Best in the Nation" marked his gravesite. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. . like how are they safely removed without 50% Hair Loss? I wish kids would learn from documentaries like these. Nick Anderson was the first to do so during what would've been Wilson's senior season and throughout his collegiate and pro career. He said the lack of serious high-level interest has not been too disappointing. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. That passion produced a player Dildy insists was better in high school than current NBA stars Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant. Benji bumped into them by accident and attempted to excuse himself, but Dixon and Moore wouldn't allow him to pass to easily. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. [10] As his game developed, friends and family surrounding Wilson began to notice that his talent could make him one of the best players in the sport. He has been working on it for 13 years now. Ben's mom passed away a few years back. Both of these statements were later recanted, but the boys were still charged with murder after questioning and the state of Illinois elected to try them both as adults due to the serious nature of their actions. Search above to list available cemeteries. Ben, after all, was 6-8 with what Wool called "the perfect basketball body" and the ability to star at point guard, center and everywhere between. [16] Wilson was described as "Magic Johnson with a jump shot" by his Simeon coach, Bob Hambric. Upon examination it was discovered that Wilson's aorta was damaged by the second shot and there was no blood reaching his lower extremities. [19], Billy Moore and Omar Dixon arrive at Simeon, Learn how and when to remove this template message, 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, "Ben Wilson's killer: 'I don't consider myself a criminal' ", "Basketball Star's Slaying Described By Girlfriend", "Ben Wilson: A Life Cut Short but the Memories Remain", "PRO BASKETBALL; A Dead Friend, a Living Memory", "2 Teens Convicted in Murder of Ben Wilson", "Legacy is Challenge for Wilson | Newsday", "Port Washington police officer killed in Northern State crash", "Brandon Wilson Car Accident: Former ESHawks Hoops player, Brandon Wilson killed in deadly car accident", "Port Washington Policeman Dies in Northern State Parkway Crash", "New Details Emerge Surrounding Ben Wilson Death as Family Forgives Killer", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Murder_of_Ben_Wilson&oldid=1136751993, This page was last edited on 31 January 2023, at 23:27. They were informed of their teammate's condition as it became available, with initial reports being positive but subsequent ones growing grimmer and grimmer as the hours wore on. As for Dixon and Moore, the former was sentenced to 30 years in prison, while the latter was locked up by way of a 40-year sentence. It was during a lunch break on November 20 when Benji, his girlfriend Jetun and another friend of theirs were out walking a short distance from Simeon that they ran into three other teenagers, two of whomOmar Dixon and William Moorewere looking for trouble. I'm about to begin my journey in rewriting my life after all the trauma, pain, and loneliness. Join Facebook to connect with Brandon Wilson and others you may know. Failed to remove flower. 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. 1967. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. Brandon wore the No. That status was partly a tribute to his gifts for the game and partly the awful handiwork of the two punks. That status was partly a tribute to his gifts for the game and partly the awful handiwork of the two punks who killed him. He shot Wilson twice, with one bullet striking his groin and the other nicking his abdominal aorta. They didn't accuse Ben of stealing anything. A: The biopic is organized by Jeff Wilson, he will announce once it's done. Dixon's attorney, Brian Dosch, called his client's confession "garbage" and destroyed a copy of it in front of reporters. [12] ESPN HS regarded Wilson as the best junior in the country for the 198384 season. Wilson then lunged at Moore, who responded by firing two shots at him. We found 15 records for Brandon Wilson in CO, TX and 10 other states. 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. Associated With. I just watched the 30 on 30 docu on ESPN last night, man the BBYMama pissed me off! They just think any blacks hanging around are stealing and thieves. Edward E. Rivers served for 25 years for the New York Police Department. The pastor that DeSantis appointed to oversee Disney's district believes drinking tap water will turn you gayyyyyyyyyyyyyy, Some of you are so weird about celeb kids. "I play because I like basketball. Moore and Dixon had cut school that day, and Moore had a .22 caliber pistol in his possession. it was a very touching docu. Wilson's family contended botched treatment at St. Bernard contributed to his death. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Ben left that playful side of his personality behind when it came to basketball. Brandon accepted Christ at a young age. He underwent five hours of surgery at St. Bernard Hospital but died at 6 a.m. Nov. 21. [29] Brandon died after he swerved into a shoulder on the Northern State Parkway, and hit a pole and two trees.[30]. Men feel the need to impose themselves on other men's wives they don't find attractive. "I'm self-motivated. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. The two boys were brought into interrogation rooms and questioned by detectives for most of the night, eventually signing statements of confession. Thanks for your help! [31] Juwan Howard wore 25 at the University of Michigan as a tribute to Wilson. Billy Moore was a 16-year-old teenager walking down Vincennes Ave. on Chicago's South Side with a gun. View the profiles of people named Brandon Wilson. How do you reconcile feminist beliefs with the outright hostility some yt women (and non-black) women have towards us? Ben Wilson father's name is Benjamin Wilson Sr and mother Mary Wilson. Erica Murphy stated Ben and Jetun were arguing and loud. In his closing on October 11, 1985, he urged the jury to focus less on the celebrity of the victim and simply follow the law. The 22-year-old's mother reportedly suffered years of abuse at the hands of his father, Craig, and he'd had enough. Simeon retired Wilson's No. 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. Sounds like a big Super Star ego talking to me. And I got a bone to pick with that Chicago hospital. 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. He is a student with no job and no car. This year, however, the Wendy's All-Star Shootout is selling the past as well as the future, at least to fans on the gray side of 30. That was just so bad. Photo Credit: Ball Is Life On September 11th, 1984, Ben Wilson had his first child, Brandon, with then-girlfriend Jetun Rush. Try again. 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. Click to expand. Brandon went on to coach basketball. those of you who will end with LARGE STUDENTS LOAN BALANCESwhat if everyone relocated outside of the U.S.???? This page was created in memory of Ben. 1 high school senior, was trying to decide whether to attend DePaul or Illinois. That is probably why she did not want to comment on the documentary. Early the next morning, November 21, Wilson died.[9][10]. 1 prep player in the class of 2013, has taken a similar approach to his time at Simeon. The trial began in the fall of 1985. 25 jersey while at Michigan. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. What the hell is going on in our community such that ten fck!ng dollars is the impetus for settling a beef ? Benji meant so much to us, and his story really scared me, knowing it happened to a great player. Before his death and subsequent lawsuit by the Wilson family, gunshot victims were taken to the nearest hospital instead of the nearest trauma center hospital. "He's the spitting image of his father," Dildy said of Brandon. According to Mirror, Benjamin attacked his abusive father with a hammer to stop him from further abusing his mother. The murder sent Chicago into shock, generating agony, outrage and calls for an end to street violence. Simeon basketball player Jabari Parker had the number 25 stitched into the team sneakers during his time at Simeon. The Ben Wilson tribute page on Facebook confirmed his death. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. "Ben loved basketball. She settled in New York, where she married Edward Rivers. I would love to know her real reasons for being that way concerning keeping the baby from the family at that time. St. Bernard was a small community hospital that was not equipped to handle emergencies or trauma cases like shootings, so a call was put out for any available trauma surgeon to report immediately to St. Bernard. Try again later. Mary Wilson had two sons from a previous marriage. The New York native, by way of Chicago, played for the Hawks in the early 2000s. An Impact Beyond Words and Numbers 8 of 8 Ben Wilson's been gone from this earth for nearly 28 years. In these statements, Moore and Dixon said that the shooting was part of a robbery, where Dixon picked Wilson's pockets and once he was done, he ordered Moore to shoot Wilson twice. Basketball Player Born in Illinois #23. African fonts, can y'all recommend me some African female artists? I've heard about him and his story is just so sad. . 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. He is walking his girl to a bus stop. [25][26] Almost immediately thereafter, she became withdrawn from Wilson and largely focused on taking care of the baby. The life and murder of Ben Wilson was featured in two documentary films produced in the 21st century. brandon wilson ben wilson son brandon wilson ben wilson son Home Realizacje i porady Bez kategorii brandon wilson ben wilson son But he said Thursday his hatred for Moore eventually turned into forgiveness. After finding out the conflict had been resolved, Moore and his friend Omar Dixon decided to stay nearby and eventually the two followed Moore's friend Erica Murphy to a nearby luncheonette located on South Vincennes Avenue, just up the street from Simeon. Dildy, though, found Brandon to be a bit more reserved than Ben, whom Dildy described as a "jokester" who would hide other players' basketball shoes and goof around with children. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. With Kevin Durant now in the mix, the new-look Suns showed the Bulls just how much firepower they have. I felt so sad to see all those teens attached to Ben. 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. "Brandon leaves to cherish his memory; parents, Jetun and Edward Rivers; two brothers, Jared and Jalen Rivers; one sister, Brelyn Rivers; grandparents, Vallie Rush (Chicago), and Rachel Rivers (Queens, NY). This story was so sad it's rare that I cry after watching a show, but I was in tears. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. [15] The camp allowed scouts and coaches to watch top high school students in a single location. Year should not be greater than current year. Wilson's friend and Simeon teammate, former NBA and University of Illinois basketball player Nick Anderson, wore jersey number 25 during his career in Wilson's honor. Just as he was getting into his car, an ambulance arrived to the scene on South Vincennes. [28] On January 13, 2022, Brandon Sherrod Wilson died in a car accident. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. They were at Simeon school because somebody stole or took $10 from Moore's cousin, but the money issue got resolved. [12] A month later, Moore was sentenced to 40 years in prison while Dixon received 30. [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].