Whatever Happened to this Hero?

The unthinkable happened last winter at a basketball game on Kansas City's West side.

An apparent grudge led some intruders to interrupt the game between DeLaSalle students and young people from Southeast Community Center.

The intruders sprayed gunshots randomly around the basketball court, wounding two individuals. Players and guests, including nine DeLaSalle staff and family members, hit the floor as the bullets whizzed overhead. Amazingly, no one was seriously injured.

Moreover, several people heroically covered children with their own bodies. One of those heroes was Jullaion Jones, a nineteen year old DeLaSalle student, who courageously shielded DeLaSalle Vice-Principal Sean Merritt's son with his sprawling body.

Jullaion's actions that day earned him exposure in one of the nation's most widely read magazines, People (see above).

But even well-earned fame can exact a hard price. Friends and strangers recognized him wherever he went; some began calling him "Hero", with just a hint of irony in the tone of their voice. Three months later, Jullaion stopped coming to school. Sean Merritt repaid the favor to Jullaion by paying occasional visits to Jullaion's home, asking and even pleading with him to return to school.

Several weeks ago, Sean's son, Desean, was getting a haircut at a local barbershop. Desean's mother recognized Jullaion outside the barber shop. Jullaion seemed discouraged, and she kindly offered to help him out, but he declined.

Yesterday, a producer for the Oprah Winfrey Show called me to ask if they could run Jullaion's picture from People for their "Heroes Across America" show on Tuesday, November 24. I said sure, and then wrote her what had happened to Jullaion after his remarkable story was told across the country.

Jullaion is still a hero to us, and of course to Desean. I hope Oprah runs his picture on November 24, and that Jullaion tunes in, and maybe even returns to DeLaSalle.