Father blames ‘weak’ system after son’s convicted killer arrested again
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Memphis family is calling out the criminal justice system after their son’s killer is back in the headlines, years after he avoided prison time on a suspended sentence.
Willie Wilson, 26, was arrested Thursday and charged with shooting his ex-girlfriend. This comes years after a separate case in which he was convicted of manslaughter, after originally being charged with murder.
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The deceased victim’s father says he tried to warn the court.
“I think that this system needs to stop making deals with the devil,” said Christopher King Sr., a pastor and the father of the victim in the 2019 case.
It’s been a long, agonizing four years for the Kings. King Sr.’s son, Christopher King Jr., was killed on June 27, 2019 in the parking lot of the Kimball Cabana Apartments.
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Willie Wilson, who was 21 at the time, was convicted in the killing. Original court documents say Wilson and King argued over money just before the shooting. Witnesses say Wilson ambushed King.
“He called his name and just shot him, and he went in his pocket and took his money and phone,” King Sr. said. “Even as a pastor, I went through fighting depression. It hurt so bad to lose a child.”
Wilson was initially charged with first-degree murder but pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter.
According to the Shelby County Criminal Justice Portal, in 2023 he was given a five-year suspended sentence.
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“They knew that he was guilty. They made a deal with him. Reduced his sentence. Then they turned around and reduced his time. So, it’s like we were victimized twice,” King Sr. said.
King Sr. says he pleaded with the judge to reconsider.
Court records show Wilson was charged several times in 2017 with assault against a girlfriend. He was never convicted on those charges.
“I let the judge know, the defense attorney, and all of them in the courtroom that Willie Wilson will be doing the same thing again,” King Sr. said.
And just years after King’s death, a petition has been filed to revoke Wilson’s suspended sentence.
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New court documents say Wilson allegedly shot his ex-girlfriend several times as she was driving on Holmes Road near Hornsby Drive. She was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
Wilson, now 26, is facing an attempted first-degree murder charge.
The Kings say that while they are happy knowing Wilson is off the streets, this tragedy could have been avoided if the courts had heeded their warnings.
“Our system is so weak,” he said. “They’re slapping murderers on the wrist and letting them go. After a while, we won’t be able to even stay in Memphis. Memphis is going to die. The economy is going to die because people are afraid to do business in Memphis.”
We reached out to the District Attorney’s office for more information regarding Wilson’s sentence and what’s next. We’ve yet to hear back.
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