Nike executive reveals he shot a teen 56 years ago

A Nike executive in the US has revealed that he had shot and killed a teenage boy in the streets of West Philadelphia 56 years ago. Larry Miller, the chairman of the Jordan Brand, has spoken about the 1956 murder in an interview with Sports Illustrated

“It was eating me up inside,” he said of his actions at age 16, when he was “a straight-up gangbanger”.

Mr. Miller, the Nike executive, has served a jail sentence for the murder. He says that he didn’t lie about it, but he kept it a secret. This admission comes ahead of the launch of his memoir for next year.

Mr. Miller has said that he had joined the Cedar Avenue gang in West Philadelphia at the age of 13. It is quickly changing from a straight student to a person drinking every day. As the rival gang member killed his friend, Mr. Miller then grabbed a 38 handgun, got drunk, and opted for retribution with three friends.

On 30ths September 1965, he fired on the chest of the first person they encountered. It was 18 years old, Edward White.

What is making him more restless is, it took place due to no reason at all. He further described this decision to come clean about his past. He has been hiding for so long from his children, closest business associates, and friends.

“We are proud of Larry Miller and the hope and inspiration his story can offer,” the company said, adding that it supported policies that help former prisoners “open new doors of opportunity and move forward with their lives”.

Mr. Miller has been working with Nike since 1997 and manages all the daily operations of Nike basketball, the Jordan Brand, and Converse. He has also worked as a former executive at Kraft Foods and Campbell Soup. He is an ex-president at the Portland Trail Blazers professional basketball team.

However, he says that he never lied about this prison time during his job application. Ahead of this interview, Mr. Miller reportedly informed members of his inner circle about this incident. He has written a book “Jump: My Secret Journey from the Streets to the Boardroom.”

It will elaborate on the details of the incident and will offer multiple stints in juvenile detention and prison over various offenses.

Mr. Miller says that he is hoping this story can steer at-risk youth away from a life of violence. It will inspire the incarcerated people to know that they can still contribute to society.

Credits: BBC