Eve Hendricks, mother Brandon Hendricks-Ellison, who was shot and
killed in the Bronx of New York City on June 29th days after his graduation
from high school, arrives to his funeral service at the First Baptist
BRONX TIMES REPORTER,BTR JULY 17-23, 2020 13
BY JASON COHEN
He had a bright future, was
a star basketball player and had
plans to play hoops collegiately.
Brandon Hendricks-Ellison
was a leader, friend, son and
role model. On July 15, he was
remembered.
On Wednesday, family,
friends, elected offi cials and
teammates gathered at the First
Baptist Church of Bronxville to
celebrate the life of Hendricks-
Ellison.
Known as “Boogie” and
“BDiddy,” there was not a dry
eye in the house. People spoke
fondly of the departed teen.
Many donned T-shirts and jerseys
with the phrase “Live Like
5” in honor of Hendricks-Ellison.
Hendricks, just 17-years-old
was shot and killed just a week
after he graduated from James
Monroe High School. On July 6,
cops arrested his alleged killer,
22-year-old Najhim Luke, who
was charged with murder, manslaughter
and criminal possession
of a weapon.
“By all accounts, Brandon
was a great kid, smart, kind,
loving, respectful and attentive
to others,” said his uncle Noel
Ellison. “His smile was an endearing
weapon. He could melt
your heart with those pearly
whites.”
He was born in Bronxville
and raised in Morrisania. Not
only did he excel on the court,
but he also succeeded in the
classroom. Hendricks won academic
awards and often helped
his classmates with their work.
According to Ellison, he was
dependable and always there for
people in a time of need.
“He truly was a special
young man,” he said. “He lived
his life as a positive example.”
Surrounded by Hendricks’
teammates, Coach Nigel Thompson
spoke about the beloved
player. Thompson emotionally
choked up, said if he had a son
he would wish he was like Hendricks.
According to Thompson,
“Boogie “led by example and
never missed a practice in three
years. He also had him as a student
in geometry and said it
was one of his favorite years of
teaching.
“Brandon is a role model,”
he remarked. “A kid who did everything
right.”
Church of Bronxville in Bronxville, New York, U.S., July 15, 2020.
Courtesy of REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
Thompson said that Hendricks
wasn’t in a gang or a
troublemaker. The coach said
the community must change
and the city must create jobs
and places for kids to go after
school.
“Young people, please stop
the violence,” he urged. “Live
like Brandon did and live like
5.”
Elected offi cials Councilman
Andy King, Councilwoman
Vanessa Gibson and Senator Jamaal
Bailey were all in attendance.
Gibson, who represents
Morrisania, said she plans to introduce
a bill to the City Council
that will rename a street after
Hendricks.
At just 17-years-old, Gibson
said that the young man’s life
was just beginning.
“It’s hard to sit here and
mourn the loss of someone who
had such promise and a bright
future,” she said. “In just 17
years on this earth, look at the
impact Brandon had on the
Bronx and beyond.”
A somber Bailey said he
hopes the community becomes
the leader Hendricks was. He
was a star point guard and now
people must follow in his footsteps.
Bailey has championed for
police reform, but stressed if
people in the Bronx keep killing
each other things will never
improve. This nonstop violence
must end.
“We’ve got to do better,” Bailey
said. “We need to make sure
we do the right things in our
community.”
Rev. Al Sharpton, founder
and president of National Action
Network (NAN) gave the
eulogy.
Sharpton said his daughter
told him about Hendricks. He
recalled how six years ago he
received a similar call about
Eric Garner.
The reverend said that Hendricks’
legacy shall not be forgotten
and he was establishing
a scholarship in his memory
and donating $5,000.
“Too often we expose the
bad kids in our community, but
the world needs to know there
are Brandons that did the right
thing,” he said.
Sharpton said that he was
sick and tired of this violence
killing people of color. He questioned
why people were more
worried about deporting immigrants
than keeping gun control.
He said that they don’t make
bullets or guns on Fordham
Road, yet people in urban communities
believe guns are the
answer.
“Back lives don’t matter until
they matter to us as much as
they do to the people that we
say ‘Black Lives Matter’ to,” he
said. “His death never should
have happened.”
‘Live like Brandon’
Family and friends remember
Brandon Hendricks-Ellison at funeral
Eve Hendricks kisses her son Brandon Hendricks-Ellison, who was shot
and killed in the Bronx of New York City on June 29th, days after his
graduation from high school, during his funeral service at the First Baptist
Church of Bronxville in Bronxville, New York, U.S., July 15, 2020.
Courtesy of REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
Men grieve by the open casket of Brandon Hendricks-Ellison, who was shot and killed in the Bronx of New York
City on June 29th days after his graduation from high school, during his funeral service at the First Baptist
Church of Bronxville in Bronxville,, Courtesy of REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
Rev. Al Sharpton gives the eulogy.
Photo by Jason Cohen