Sandy MaloneAkron, OH – Basketball legend LeBron James took to social media to call for justice for the sister of a close friend who was recently murdered in his hometown of Akron after previously advocating to defund the police.
Akron police officers found 37-year-old Ericka Weems unresponsive in her bedroom on Monday afternoon, CNN reported.
Weems father, Darrell Weems, told WEWS that the last time he heard from his daughter was when she left his home on Saturday night.
“She left me about 9 o’clock. I told her to call me when she got home, and she never called. I called her all day Sunday. No answer,” the grieving father said.
Weems had committed to watching a friend’s child on Monday and when the friend couldn’t reach her, she called Weems’ sister, WEWS reported.
Shermaine Weems-Reed went to Weems’ home on Hardesty Boulevard with her husband to see what was going on and make sure that her sister was alright.
“I just knew in my heart something was wrong and it was,” Weems-Reed said.
She found her sister dead in an upstairs bedroom and they called 911, WEWS reported.
Akron Police Lieutenant Michael A. Miller said the medical examiner determined Weems died of gunshot wounds that were sustained between Saturday and Monday, CNN reported.
“The investigation is still in its early stages. No suspects have been identified or arrested as of yet, but investigators remain optimistic,” Lt. Miller said.
Weems was the sister of Brandon Weems, the scouting director of the Cleveland Cavaliers and long-time close friend of National Basketball Association (NBA) star LeBron James, CNN reported.
James took to Twitter on Wednesday to ask for help from the city in finding the killer of his “brother’s sister.”
“AKRON OHIO!! My brother’s sister was murdered this past weekend in her home! My brother family need answers to why and by whom. My city I need y’all to go to work and find out who did this awful, shameful, disgusting thing to such a caring, loving angel! #Justice4EricaWeems” he posted.
AKRON OHIO!! My brother’s sister was murdered this past weekend in her home! My brother family need answers to why and by whom. My city I need y’all to go to work and find out who did this awful, shameful, disgusting thing to such a caring, loving angel! #Justice4EricaWeems❤️💔
— LeBron James (@KingJames) November 4, 2020
But the basketball legend known by fans as “King James” did not find the universal support for his plea that he might have been expecting once it went up.
“You should ask for help from the Akron Police Department. Or are they still pigs?” @LarryJo202 replied to James’ tweet.
James has been a vocal critic of law enforcement, an advocate of defunding the police, and has walked off the court and taken a knee during the National Anthem at basketball games.
@KingJames man I feel for you…. but don’t you wanna defund police? You ask for the peoples help but they live by a street code… I just hope you give credit where it’s due from now on. pic.twitter.com/IQo173jq6x
— Mike (@MartyMcFlyCA) November 5, 2020
In September, when Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva publicly asked James to match the $175,000 reward being offered for information about the gunman who ambushed two deputies at a Compton train station, the Los Angeles Lakers star replied only “zero comment” via social media, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Granted LeBron James doesn’t want to match the reward money for the shooter that the Police commission asking for, can LeBron expect help from police if he is in big trouble in emergency situations? His family?That should LeBron ask to himself who is a 6’9” height tall egomaniac.
— Noel Sagmit (@NoelSagmit) September 17, 2020
Meanwhile, Akron police detectives are actively investigating the case and trying to determine whether Weems knew her killer and might have invited the person into her home, WEWS reported.
“Please. I never ever thought I would ever be in this position. Just please tell somebody something,” Weems-Reed pleaded with the community. “This is such a tragedy for us.”
Holly Matkin
