In the summer of 2014, the life of 18-year-old D'Angelo Wilson was tragically cut short in Newport, Kentucky. A recent graduate of Newport High School, Wilson was a promising young man with a bright future. He had maintained a 3.0 GPA and was diligently working two fast-food jobs to save money for college, with plans to attend either Morehead State or Northern Kentucky University in the fall. Friends and teachers remembered him as a sweet and well-liked individual, making his violent end a shocking and bewildering event for the community.
On the evening of August 6, 2014, Wilson was at the Barkley Ridge Apartments on Bluegrass Avenue, a place he didn't live but often visited to see friends and family. It was in a friend's second-floor apartment that he was shot in the back of the head just after 8 p.m. He was rushed to University Hospital, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries. The suddenness and brutality of the act left his family and friends devastated and searching for answers.
The investigation into D'Angelo Wilson's death quickly led to an arrest. Police took a 17-year-old male from Fort Thomas into custody and charged him with murder. The suspect was later identified as Makyle Wilson, who was not related to the victim. Despite his age, the decision was made to try him as an adult. In December of that year, a grand jury indicted Makyle Wilson on charges of murder and tampering with physical evidence, alleging that he had hidden the handgun after the shooting.
While a motive for the shooting was not publicly released by law enforcement, the legal proceedings against Makyle Wilson moved forward. He was ultimately sentenced to eleven years in prison for manslaughter and tampering with evidence. Just a few years into his sentence, in the fall of 2016, he became eligible for parole. D'Angelo Wilson's mother, determined to see justice served for her son, actively campaigned against his early release. Her efforts were successful, and the parole board denied his request, ensuring he would remain incarcerated.
