The family of West Virginia University graduate student Jerry Phillip Wilkins is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual who shot and killed Wilkins earlier this month.
Jerrys mother, Deborah Brown of New Jersey, said she is hopeful that the reward money will motivate someone who may know something to come forward. If more than one person comes forth who leads authorities to an arrest and conviction, that money would then be divided, she said.
Wilkins, 27, was fatally shot around 7:25 p.m. Feb. 2 near his apartment at the intersection of Inglewood Boulevard and University Avenue. The sports management student from Philadelphia was rushed to the hospital and pronounced dead a short time later.
The Morgantown Detective Division is still investigating the case. Anyone with information should call the Tip Line at 304-284-7500, the Morgantown Police Department at 284-7522 or the Morgantown Detective Division at 284-7454.
A campus memorial service, attended by some 700 friends and family and coordinated by Wilkinsfraternity Alpha Phi Alpha, was held Feb. 5. At that time, the fraternity and WVU Center for Black Culture and Research set up a”Memorial Fund for Jerry Wilkins”through Wesbanco. Donations to the fund can be sent to Wesbanco, 344 High St., Morgantown, WV 26505 .
At the service, sports management Professor Dallas Branch said he considered Wilkins more than a student.”He was my friend and a teacher,”Branch said.
A friend mimicked him lovingly, speaking of his fondness for cologne and his passion for meeting new students from the Philadelphia area by saying”Hey, youre from the crib.”
Another simply said:”Weve got to stop the hate.”
Jamie Miller, a fellow sports management graduate student, said he and Wilkins became fast friends, working out together at the Universitys Student Recreation Center, studying and socializing.
“He always called me Cunningham (for Richie Cunningham of”Happy Days”)...and joked that I was”one crazy white guy.”
Vice President for Student Affairs Ken Gray and WVU President David Hardesty also spoke at the service, and presented the Wilkins family with a certificate that indicated Wilkins was an important member of the University family.
“A great university knows its students one by oneand, yes, we knew Jerryand we will miss him,”President Hardesty said.
“This outpouring of love and respect for Jerry on campusand at a similar service in Philadelphiawas so touching,”Mrs. Brown said.”I am hopeful that people that Jerry impacted so deeply will now come forwardif they know somethingto help bring his killer to justice.”
Wilkins worked as a graduate assistant in the WVU Office of New Student Services and served as a mentor in the PassKey Program for minority students. He also worked at The Gap store at Morgantown Mall, and had planned a career with a professional sports team. He was serving an internship with the Pittsburgh Steelers.