A Death Ruled “Justifiable”: The Killing of John Wesley Wilder

LWC Studios and Type Investigations

Emzie Wilder and his daughter Shedonna Wilder-Martin stand outside his home in Shreveport, Louisiana. Photo by Ben Greenberg.

In 1965, Emzie Wilder’s brother, John Wesley Wilder, was shot and killed by police officer Edward Alton Nugent in Ruston, Louisiana.

Today Emzie is 92 years old, living in Shreveport, Louisiana. Nugent is also still alive and has never been held accountable. And I’ve found new evidence that the shooting was unprovoked. I speak with Emzie, his daughter Shedonna and others on “A Death Ruled ‘Justifiable’: The Killing of John Wesley Wilder,” my contribution to Still Paying the Price: Reparations in Real Terms, a new podcast series from LWC Studios. I reported, produced and wrote the episode, which was made in partnership with the nonprofit newsroom Type Investigations and with support from the Fund for Investigative Journalism.

Learn more on my blog.