Semori 'Skeeter' Wilson, a 25-year-old Black / African American male, was fatally shot on May 10, 2018, in the Stapleton neighborhood of Staten Island, New York. A former standout high school basketball player from Uniontown, Pennsylvania, Wilson had relocated to Manhattan. On the evening of his death, he was outside the El Patron Restaurant and Lounge on Bay Street when he was approached by an individual.
A verbal dispute broke out between Wilson and the other man, which quickly
escalated. The assailant, later identified as Francis Batata, shot Wilson in the chest. Despite being wounded, Wilson managed to go back into the bar seeking help before he collapsed. He was transported to Richmond University Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The incident occurred just a block away from his apartment.
The investigation into Wilson's murder led police to Francis Batata. Surveillance footage played a key role in identifying Batata as the shooter, showing him fleeing the scene through the Stapleton train station shortly after the shooting. Witness testimony also contributed to his identification.
Francis Batata was subsequently arrested and charged with the murder of Semori Wilson. Following a trial where he was found guilty of murder in the second degree, Batata was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.
