University of West Virginia football recruit Chris Wilson Jr. has died following a car shooting in Indiana.
According to a Tuesday, October 6, report by ESPN, the Yorktown High School student, who had committed to WVU, was “found in a vehicle with multiple gunshot wounds and pronounced dead on the scene.” He was 17 years old.
The outlet reported that Indiana’s Muncie Police Department received a call stating that shots had been fired at 2:59 AM one morning prior. An investigation into the emerging star’s death is currently underway.
WVU Mountaineers coach Rich Rodriguez told the outlet in a statement that the Football program was “heartbroken” to learn of the tragic news. “We really enjoyed getting to know Chris during the recruiting process. The WVU football program sends it[s] heartfelt thoughts and prayers to Chris’ family in this difficult time,” the statement read.
The outlet also reported that Yorktown High School principal Stacey Brewer addressed Wilson Jr.’s death via written communication with parents and students on the morning of Monday, October 5. “With great sadness, I share that Chris Wilson, a senior at Yorktown High School, died tragically early this morning,” Brewer wrote. “His family has given us permission to share this news. Chris was a valued member of our school, our football team, and our community. Our hearts are with his family, friends, and teammates.”
Local Indianapolis news outlet Fox 59 reported later on Tuesday that Wilson Jr.’s family is looking for “answers” amid the tragedy. His mother, Tywanna Price, told the outlet that the shooter “snatched his life from me” before urging the unknown person to “come forward.”
The mom continued, “The dispatch call said that somebody walked behind the car, or on the side of the car, and shot at his side. That’s all I know. That’s all they’re telling me.”
Price also said that her son had been in the car with his girlfriend at the time of the shooting. “They weren’t hurt. So, it was, like, it was targeted for my son,” she said. “We deserve more answers. He deserves more answers. He had a beautiful life ahead of him.”
The outlet noted that Muncie authorities “did not clarify” whether or not officers had identified or were searching for a suspect or suspects, adding that the department had “told the family it [is] following leads, but will not release more at the time.”
Yorktown Police Chief Kurt Walthour also spoke with the outlet, reiterating that Price and her family can trust in the department’s processes. “There’s a lot of man-hours put into it. I know the Muncie Police Department, I know their detectives, and they are working very, very hard on this,” Walthour said.
