Top Alabama high school running back killed

Wilkes, 18, shot near home; five suspects arrested, charged with murder

updated 3:23 p.m. ET Nov. 30, 2006

WADLEY, Ala. - One of the top high school running backs in Alabama was killed in a shooting at an outdoor basketball court near the player’s home.

Terrance Wilkes, 18, was a senior at Wadley High School. His cousin, Jasper Buchannan, a University of Alabama student and former football standout at another high school, was wounded in the Saturday afternoon shooting, Randolph County Sheriff’s Investigator Gregory Dendinger said. He was airlifted to a Birmingham hospital, where he was in serious condition following surgery.

Five men were arrested and charged with murder and assault, Dendinger said: Rodney Woodgett, 23; Sylvester Johnson, 18; Jermaine Jackson, 26; Concoryen Askew, 19; and Curtis Johnson, 19.

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Dendinger said multiple weapons were fired by the suspects, who got out of two vehicles. Only Wilkes and Buchannan were hit, he said. A motive remained under investigation.

Wilkes rushed for 2,022 yards and 35 touchdowns this season and was a finalist for the Alabama Sportswriters Association’s Class 1A Back of the Year.

He was part of 68 victories at Wadley during a varsity career in which he ran for 9,688 yards and 152 touchdowns on 1,096 carries.