In the early morning hours of November 22, 2014, the life of 21-year-old Arbie Leedester Wilson Jr., a male and aspiring rapper from Erie, Pennsylvania, was tragically cut short. An altercation that began at the Red Tomato Lounge on East 18th and Peach streets escalated, spilling out into the surrounding area and culminating in a fatal shooting. The conflict reportedly involved Wilson and two other men, Keith Horton and Jameele Williams. Authorities alleged that following the dispute at the lounge, Horton and Williams pursued Wilson. The chase ended in the drive-thru lane of a closed bank, where Wilson was shot and killed.
The investigation into Arbie Wilson's death led to the arrests of both Keith Horton and Jameele Williams. The two men faced a series of legal battles. In their initial trials, both were acquitted of the most serious charge of homicide. However, the pursuit of justice for Wilson did not end there. Jameele Williams was retried in February and subsequently convicted of firearms crimes and reckless endangerment for his role in the events of that night. He was later sentenced to a term of seven years and three months to fifteen years and six months of incarceration.
Keith Horton's legal journey was also complex. His first trial on charges of voluntary manslaughter and aggravated assault ended with a hung jury, prompting a second trial. In the subsequent trial, a jury found Horton guilty of voluntary manslaughter, possessing an instrument of a crime, recklessly endangering another person, and aggravated assault. His conviction was later upheld on appeal, solidifying the legal outcome for one of the men involved in the death of Arbie Wilson Jr.
