A father and his teenage son have been arrested in connection with a drive-by shooting that killed an Indiana high school football standout in what investigators believe was a case of mistaken identity.
Christopher Wilson Jr., a Yorktown High School star who had committed to play football at West Virginia University, was shot in his vehicle earlier this month as he and his girlfriend returned from a restaurant.
Authorities allege that Dairus E. Thompson III, 17, and his father, Dairus E. Thompson II, 40, worked together in the killing of the athlete, whom they mistakenly identified as a man the elder Thompson had been feuding with, according to charging documents obtained by Fox 59.
The younger Thompson allegedly fired the fatal shots while following “step-by-step instructions” provided by his father, the documents state.
Surveillance video allegedly captures a white GMC Acadia linked to Thompson II traveling through the neighborhood before fleeing at high speed shortly after the shooting.
Investigators searching Thompson II’s phone reportedly found a video apparently recorded inside the Acadia. In it, he could allegedly be heard discussing how to carry out a drive-by shooting and providing “step-by-step instructions on how to do so,” according to the charging documents.
A witness told police that Thompson II, who is also known as “Gotto” or “lil Gotto,” later acknowledged Wilson’s death had been a mistake because he believed the teenager was the individual with whom he had a dispute.
The witness said Thompson II used the phrase “let lil bros rockout,” which was understood to mean that he had directed his son to carry out the Oct. 5 shooting.
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Witnesses also told investigators that the father and son attempted to exchange the firearm allegedly used in the attack and instructed someone to “get rid of it.” Police eventually recovered the weapon and said it was ballistically matched to the gun used in the fatal shooting.
Thompson II was arrested last week and charged with inducing or causing murder.
Thompson III was arrested Thursday in Detroit and faces charges of murder, conspiracy to commit murder and obstruction of justice. He is awaiting extradition to Indiana.
Wilson, a high school senior, was an elite defensive end for the Yorktown Tigers. According to his obituary, he led the team to a sectional championship last year and became Delaware County’s first four-star football recruit.
Known as a “gentle giant,” Wilson committed to the West Virginia Mountaineers in June and was scheduled to graduate from high school early, in December.
He is survived by a large family, including three sisters and four brothers.
“Despite national attention for his athletic abilities, Christopher remained humble and grounded. He never sought the spotlight or allowed his success to change who he was,” his obituary states.
“The young man underneath the helmet was what made Christopher truly special. His humility, kindness, determination, and the relationships he built left a lasting impression on his family, friends, classmates, coaches, teammates, and community.”