Jimmy Wilson arrested for murder
I don't know what to say. I'm sick of writing about this stuff. It gets real old trying to comment on drug charges and murder. It's too much. I don't know how to react to more stuff like this.
From the Great Falls Tribune:
A University of Montana football player is being held in a California jail facing murder charges and will be arraigned in court today, according to a Los Angeles County Sheriff Department deputy.University Executive Vice President Jim Foley confirmed that starting cornerback James "Jimmy" Leon Wilson, 20, is in the hands of the California court system and the school's athletic department and administrators were attempting to learn more about the case Wednesday night.
...Wilson is accused of shooting and killing Kevin Smoot, 29, at Smoot's home on June 2, authorities said. Smoot was shot in the upper torso while he stood in the driveway of his house. He died at the scene, deputies said.
Wilson allegedly fled the scene after the shooting, deputies said.
Authorities said Wilson was involved in an altercation with Smoot and his girlfriend, who is related to Wilson, Los Angeles County authorities said. Wilson, accompanied by his attorney, turned himself in to authorities Tuesday in Lancaster, Calif., about an hour northeast of Los Angeles, deputies said.
The victim's mother, Leslie Smoot, told a Palmdale, Calif., newspaper that her son had two young children with his 27-year-old girlfriend. She did not know the relationship between Wilson and the woman. She learned of Wilson's arrest Wednesday after she buried her son, the newspaper said.
What is going on? We're Montana. Is there anything else we can do to make the universities in this state look worse? Really. I don't think you could do much more damage in an offseason. This recent incident isn't as closely tied to the school and area as the MSU one but that doesn't make it better. I really can't land an opinion on this other than that it's horrible.
Nebraska went thru someting a bit similar many yrs ago, they survived
6/16/06
Billings MT
The Editor(s)
The Billings Gazette
Billings, MT
Re: criminal athletes
Gentlemen:
I guess the appropriate and timely comment would be, "What were you thinking ?"
Unless I'm mistaken, our Billings School District strongly opposes, possibly even totally BANS , "gang attire, gang graffiti, gang symbols and gang 'signs'…" See the attached, huge, live-and-in color Sports section (6/16/07) front-page 5X8 photo that looks as if might have been shot on the dangerous and dirty streets of Los Angeles, the current prison residence of one Jimmy Wilson (see attached)…Not only are those gang signs, they're got on their gang faces. Great role models, guys, for our local young athletes. "MTV rules…"
In the current climate of criminal chaos in the sports departments of our two major Universities, why in the WORLD would you FEATURE these Outlaw clowns, with their in-yo'-face attitudes? Were there not a few players on the team with some class and manners, that you might have interviewed? It's quite possible in our pristine Big Sky environment, that you "just don't get it"…But…We are not immune to that thug culture. You can believe the coaching staffs and administration at the MSU and UM are "getting it", lately, big time…They're reaping the recruiting whirlwind, and you can be assured that behind the closed doors in their recruiting offices now, in both schools, the coaches are being told, "Do the background checks."
This is difficult to write, without sounding like a racist bigot, but, as Will Rogers once said, "All I know is what I read in the newspapers." Unquote. And it's your newspaper. I made up none of this. Not a racist; a realist.
Any of you who were around in the 1980's, (Warren Rogers will confirm this) you'll recall one of our Montana University coaches was getting strong criticism from the alumni, because he wasn't recruiting enough Montana high-school players. His of-the-cuff response was, "Well, for my big strong linemen, I actually do recruit in Montana. But , when I want speed , I go to L.A." Unquote. I read it in this paper. He wasn't fired. Today, he would be.
In reading of the recent felonious criminal indictments in both schools, and the latest enclosed articles regarding Wilson, Derrick Davis, and Richard and Randy Gatewood, (4...count 'em, 4) in today's paper, maybe we now have to ask the recruiters, "Is the 'speed' worth the risk?"
Signed: A local sports fan.
cc: Sports Dept., MSU
Sports Dept. U. of MT
WOW! why would he ever do something like this. He was a very good football player and now he will be spending the rest of his life in jail SHAME ON HIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Most people DO NOT know Jimmy and do not know the situation. You only hear what the media wants you to hear. I am not saying he did it or didn't do it, or that it is right or wrong, all I am saying is, do not judge! What would you do if it was your mother, aunt, sister, or daughter getting beat up???
I followed up this entry with one telling Jimmy Wilson's grandmother's side of the story. No one can say he did or didn't do it but Qwenton Freeman's silence and lack of cooperation do not reflect well on Jimmy's side of the case.
We'll pray for you jimmy wilson.
Always,
Kelley and Amber (twins)
I really hope he had a "good" reasos for this.
You people are dumb. Just because someone is accused of a crime doesnt't mean it was committed by him. i know jimmy and he is a great person and you guys hear one thing and lable him a gang baging murderer.. shame on him? shame on you!
Its funny how people talk without thinking.
You always hear storys like this, but you never think it'll happen to somebody you know. Before you speak, put yourself in his shoes,what was going on,what drove a young man with no criminal history to murder another human being. We got some clown here talking about gang signs and this and that, jimmy aint no gangster. What kinda gangster goes to school you waist of a human mind. Do some research first then picture that person being your son or friend.
Its funny how people talk without thinking.
You always hear storys like this, but you never think it'll happen to somebody you know. Before you speak, put yourself in his shoes,what was going on,what drove a young man with no criminal history to murder another human being. We got some clown here talking about gang signs and this and that, jimmy aint no gangster. What kinda gangster goes to school you waist of a human mind. Do some research first then picture that person being your son or friend.
Its funny how people talk without thinking.
You always hear storys like this, but you never think it'll happen to somebody you know. Before you speak, put yourself in his shoes,what was going on,what drove a young man with no criminal history to murder another human being. We got some clown here talking about gang signs and this and that, jimmy aint no gangster. What kinda gangster goes to school you waist of a human mind. Do some research first then picture that person being your son or friend.
Its funny how people talk without thinking.
You always hear storys like this, but you never think it'll happen to somebody you know. Before you speak, put yourself in his shoes,what was going on,what drove a young man with no criminal history to murder another human being. We got some clown here talking about gang signs and this and that, jimmy aint no gangster. What kinda gangster goes to school you waist of a human mind. Do some research first then picture that person being your son or friend.