Ferguson unrest is personal for Wizards’ Beal

WASHINGTON — The recent events in Ferguson, Missouri, are “definitely heartbreaking” to a Wizards player who grew up near there and was acquainted with Michael Brown, the teenager who was killed.

Bradley Beal, who grew up in St. Louis, tells ABC7 that Ferguson is about 10 minutes from his old home, and that while he didn’t “have a personal relationship” with Brown, the teen who was shot and killed by white police officer Darren Wilson was someone he’d “seen around. …

“[H]e was a big part of the area. A lot of people knew who he was and he was a big impact to our community.”

Beal tells ABC7 that the unfolding vandalism and violence in Ferguson is “disappointing. …

“There’s a right and wrong way of going about things and hopefully people will be smart, and just be safe about the decisions they are making.”

He adds that he checked in on “a lot of people last night – my friends, family – making sure that they were safe and not doing anything that they weren’t supposed to be doing.”

See a report from ABC7:

Follow @WTOP and @WTOPSports on Twitter and WTOP on Facebook.

Federal News Network Logo
Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you.

Sign up