by Floyd Ivy
The fatal shooting of Brandon D. Webber by U.S. Marshals on Wednesday night should not have happened and a lot of people – including myself – have a heavy heart. Brandon was a close friend of mine.
A graduate of The Central High School in 2017, I knew Brandon as one of the most intellectual young people you meet in this day and age. He spread love and positivity and always wanted to make sure people close to him, family or friends were good.
Brandon was one of those people you could come talk to about anything and not have to worry about any judgmental backlash. While in high school, he made 25 on the ACT and did other positive things. He was also a homeroom facilitator.
Brandon was/is the father of three young children and was very prevalent in their lives. The last was born June 15, three days after he was killed.
The last time I talked to Brandon was back in 2018. He always wanted his friends to do great things. And we wanted the same for him.
Brandon also got accepted into the University of Memphis. He was talented in many ways. I remember we took art together. He definitely knew how to transfer his thoughts from his mind to paper. He had the ability to make you laugh or smile on your worst day and to make the best out of a bad situation.
I was in my room when I got the heartbreaking phone call that he was dead. Not saying that my friend was perfect, because none of us are and we all make mistakes in life. I will say this: Brandon was not this negative person that some of these cowardly social media pages are trying to paint him to be. He was not a monster. He was not a menace to society.
(Floyd Ivy is a summer intern for The New Tri-State Defender through the City of Memphis Office of Youth Services.)
