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ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) – Dion Ford’s coaches say he had a uncommon capacity to mix confidence and humility.
Throughout his time at St. Paul Central Excessive College, that distinctive mix helped information him to greater than 1,000 factors scored on the basketball court docket. It additionally helped him make a lifelong affect off it.
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On Thursday, Ford was shot and killed outdoors of a comfort retailer on St. Paul’s north aspect. In line with police paperwork, he was trying to take meals to his automotive when he was approached and threatened.
Ford, a 21-year-old St. Paul native, had a allow to hold a firearm and shot first. That’s when Xavion Bell, additionally 21, shot again greater than a dozen occasions, killing Ford.
Bell had been arrested beforehand in 2018 and 2020 for theft and kidnapping. In November of 2021, he was launched on bond. Bell now faces felony prices of
second-degree homicide. He’s anticipated to seem in court docket early subsequent week, though he’s at the moment hospitalized following the shootout with Ford.
‘Vitality, Caring’
St. Paul Central Coach Scott Howell remembers the primary time he met Dion Ford.
“My first impression of him was ‘Have a look at this athlete,;: Howell stated.
He’d rapidly study Ford was extra than simply that.
“He went from this foolish sort of child to sort of studying to take issues critically,” Howell stated.
As a basketball participant for the Minutemen from 2015-2019, Ford scored greater than 1,000 factors. Off the court docket, he additionally excelled on the soccer subject.
“Nearly as good as he was, he by no means acted like a cocky famous person,” stated Coach Dave Gubbrud. “Truthfully, in soccer, he was a famous person.”
Ford had performed collegiately in each North Dakota and Wyoming earlier than returning house to St Paul this previous fall, the place he was ending college at Augsburg. @WCCO #WCCO pic.twitter.com/5q5FTzKY4y
— Adam Duxter (@AdamDuxter) April 2, 2022
The 2 coaches say over the course of his highschool years, Ford reworked in entrance of their eyes.
“You watch him mature, and also you watch him do completely different college actions. He’s not that foolish child anymore. Now he’s the function mannequin,” Howell stated.
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“His maturation stage was fairly excellent,” Gubbrud stated.
After graduating in 2019, Ford pursued basketball on the collegiate stage, enjoying first in North Dakota, then Wyoming.
“On, and off the court docket, I don’t suppose he realized how good he was, simply naturally,” stated Wibi MacDonald, who labored to teach Ford after he graduated highschool. “Even simply our first month of coaching going into school, it was identical to growth, growth, growth. He was choosing it up really easy. It was simply pure. The whole lot was so
pure to him,” he stated.
‘Too Many Weapons’
The group of St. Paul Central coaches say Ford is the sixth former athlete who has handed within the final three years.
“We lose our younger individuals with a lot potential for no motive right here,” stated Curtis Bakken, who coached Ford at St. Paul Central.
“Certainly one of my former college students texted at 1:30 within the morning and stated ‘Did you hear the information?’” stated Jenny Wamsley, who taught Ford throughout his time at Central Excessive
College. “My coronary heart simply sunk. Not Dion, he’s such an amazing child.”
“He wasn’t a child that was doing the fallacious factor. He was a child that was attempting to go get some meals,” Bakken stated.
“I stated to my spouse, I knew he wasn’t into something dangerous, so I don’t know what may have occurred right here,” Gubbrud stated. “After I discovered what occurred, it’s
pointless.”
Ford’s mom, Danita King, says he had gotten his hid carry allow following his return to Minnesota in 2021, fearing concerning the hazard on the streets of St. Paul.
“Dion wasn’t a child that was out within the streets,” Bakken stated. “He wasn’t a child that was doing the fallacious factor. He was a child that was attempting to go get some meals,” referring to the evening Ford was killed.
“There are challenges if you’re teaching within the internal metropolis,” Bakken stated. “You don’t produce other coaches out within the suburbs worrying about their youngsters getting shot going to the grocery retailer. I need individuals to listen to that.”
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On Saturday afternoon, Ford’s coaches, teammates, household and associates held a balloon launch outdoors of St. Paul Central Excessive College in his honor.
HAPPENING NOW: Practically 100 individuals are gathered at Central Excessive College in St Paul to recollect Dion Ford, a 2019 graduate and standout athlete. On Thursday, Ford was shot and killed on St Paul’s North aspect. These closest say he was within the fallacious place on the fallacious time. @WCCO #WCOO pic.twitter.com/QLBjgfDx2U
— Adam Duxter (@AdamDuxter) April 2, 2022
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