Chicago congressman's grandson fatally shot over a pair of gym shoes
He was 15 years old when he was killed — possibly in an argument over shoes. Javon Wilson was Chicago's 701st homicide. His grandfather, Congressman Danny Davis, says he needs people's action to stop gun violence as much as their sympathy.
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US Rep. Danny Davis speaks to the media on November 19, 2016, about his 15-year-old grandson, Javon Wilson, who was shot and killed during a home invasion in Chicago. ( Joshua Lott/AFP/Getty Images)
On Friday, Javon Wilson became the 701st homicide victim in Chicago this year. Among those killed, an overwhelming number were shot. The majority were black and many were young. Javon was just 15. He was shot to death in his home.
Fifteen-year-old Javon Wilson was allegedly killed because of an argument over shoes. (Jovan Wilson/Facebook) Police have charged two people in connection with his murder: a 16-year-old boy, and a 17-year-old girl. Danny Davis has been the U.S. Representative for Illinois's 7th congressional district for nearly 20 years. Javon Wilson was his grandson.
As It Happens host Carol Off spoke with Congressman Davis. Here is part of their conversation.
Carol Off: Congressman Davis, first of all, I'm sorry for your loss.
Danny Davis: Thank you very much. Expressions of condolences and sympathy have come from all over and all kinds of people. I've been very pleased to know that all kinds of people from every stripe and every walk of life — Democrats, Republicans, gun-lovers, gun-haters — all kinds of people have expressed an interest. I'm hoping that an interest will generate into something that will help reduce the level of gun violence that we are experiencing, not only here in Chicago, but in many places throughout the nation.
So I'm heartened by that, although I feel miserable in terms of having lost my grandson. I'm doing alright. But my son, Javon's mother, his sisters and brothers are not doing well. The three children were in the home at the time — the youngest being 8 years old, then a 14-year-old and my granddaughter is 16 years old. So they're taking it pretty hard, pretty hard.
People react after US Rep. Danny Davis' 15-year-old grandson was shot in the head and killed during a home invasion in the 5600 block of South Princeton Avenue Nov.18, 2016 in Chicago. (Joshua Lott/AFP/Getty Images) CO: When you say they were in the house, this is when these two teenagers, a boy and a girl, they entered your family's apartment where your grandson was with the other children and that's where allegedly this shooting happened. What do police say was the motive?
DD: Well the original motivation appears to have been a swapping game that they play, where I will swap you an item of clothing for an item that you will swap me. There had been a swap of some gym shoes and a pair of slacks. The young lady supposedly decided that she wanted her gym shoes back. So a little argument got started and the young fella ended up with a gun. As the little friction was occurring, he then shot my grandson in the neck.
CO: Your grandson was shot for a pair of running shoes...
DD: Yup… so it all happened so quickly and so out of character. All of the other family members — my son says, "You know, I was supposed to have been taking Javon to get his haircut and I didn't get there in time." His mother had just gone to the store to pick up some food and had only been gone for 10 or 15 minutes. Of course, her feeling is, "Oh, if I had not gone out of the house at that moment I would have been there." And so, all of these feelings.
U.S. Rep. Danny Davis, D-Ill., center, and his son, Stacey Wilson, give a news conference at the 5th District police department in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago. Fifteen-year-old Javon Wilson, the grandson of Danny Davis and son of Stacey Wilson, was shot and killed Friday evening. (Alyssa Pointer/Chicago Tribune/AP) CO: How did he get the gun?
DD: That's what nobody seems to know and that is obviously a big question. How does a 16-year-old get a gun? Where do they get the gun from? Who provides the gun? There seems to be so many guns on the street and just in people's possessions — many of whom should not have a gun. That's why I think we need to strengthen our gun laws so that we can reduce the numbers of guns that are just floating around in our society and especially in inner city communities.
Police clear a scene at 5600 South Princeton Ave., after Javon Wilson, 15, was shot and killed in the Englewood neighbourhood of Chicago. (Alyssa Pointer/Chicago Tribune/AP) DD: I think one of the big needs that we have, especially for young parents, who have not had parenting guidance and direction coming from their own parents — I mean I've been a promoter of parenting programs but I'm going to renew my focus on parenting help for young parents who just need to have a better understanding of the time, energy and effort that it takes to bring children up and share with them certain kinds of values that I think will be helpful in this process.
DD: I'm going to try and use as much of my time, energy and effort as I can to help find solutions, or at least directions, to try to reduce the level of violence. I've had anti-bullying legislation — I mean this has been a problem in my mind for a long time. It's not a new issue. It's not a new problem. It's something that some of us have worked on for years but have not been able to have the impact that we'd like to have.
For more on this story, listen to our full interview with Congressman Danny Davis.
