Image via Complex Original
Since the dawn of time, people have wanted what they didn't have. For many, that means limited, hyped, or expensive sneakers. Stretching as far back as the days of Bobbito Garcia's Where'd You Get Those: New York City's Sneaker Culture: 1960-1985 and becoming a pop-culture phenomenon in Sports Illustrated's 1990 article, "Your Sneakers or Your Life," there has been violence over coveted sneakers. Whether Air Jordans, Foamposites, or a clean pair of Nike Blazers, people have gone to extreme means to procure footwear they don't own. Sadly, this often means that people have lost their lives over what they have on their feet.
As of late, this has become an increasing trend, and it's sickening. To bring awareness to this issue, we've compiled a A Recent History of Sneaker Violence. Let's hope we don't have to report on these instances anymore. For the record, this probably isn't every time someone has been harmed over sneakers in the past few years, but it's enough to make us all think, why is this still happening?
A kid is beaten for his Foamposites and then beaten with the sneakers.
When: December 2011
Where: Massachusetts
What Happened: A freshman at Dean College, Kirk Dudley, approached another student who he claimed stole his Foamposites. His friends video taped the incident, and Dudley confronted the man wearing the sneakers and knocked him unconscious. He then proceeded to take the sneakers off the victim and beat him with them. Dudley claimed that the violence was to repossess his property, which was found to be false, as the victim's parents produced a receipt for the sneakers. Dudley and his onlooking friends were expelled from the school.
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Tragedy strikes New Jersey over the annual Air Jordan XI release.
When: December 2012
Where: New Jersey
What Happened: Joshua Woods purchased a pair of the Air Jordan "Playoff" XIs at Willowbrook Mall in Wayne, N.J. After purchasing the sneakers, he was followed home by three teenagers who shot and killed Woods for his sneakers.
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A sneaker robbery goes wrong and a teen was gunned down.
When: October 2013
Where: Georgia
What Happened: A sneaker trade had been arranged through Craigslist, and 18-year-old Joshua Lofton had met up with 26-year-old Marcus Allen Lloyd to buy a pair of Air Jordans for $250. Allegedly, Lofton pulled out a knife while trying on the sneakers and tried to run off. In reaction, Lloyd shot Lofton dead on the spot. Lofton's family denies that he would try and steal sneakers.
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Fights break out over "Gamma" XIs.
When: December 2013
Where: California
What Happened: The Air Jordan "Gamma" XIs caused a lot hype, and people got crazy and fought in a Finish Line over them. No one was arrested as everyone left the scene before the cops showed up. Fights also broke out across the country for the sneakers.
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Murder over Yeezys.
When: December 2013
Where: Chicago
What Happened: Allegedly, a 20-year-old was set to purchase a pair of Air Yeezys for $1,800. That didn't happen, and he was shot outside of the barbershop he worked at.
A teenager is strong-armed out of his Foams.
When: December 2013
Where: Virginia
What Happened: A 15-year-old male was ran up on by the 20-something suspect. He was then put in a headlock and his Foamposites were stolen, but not before he was thrown on the ground.
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A student hitting the books was killed over his Js after going home late.
When: February 2014
Where: Virginia
What Happened: Kahron Lee, a 20-year-old student at Virginia Union University, was going home after a late-night study session at the campus library. He was confronted by 19-year-old Willie Daquan Lee, who has no relation, and was killed over his Air Jordans. The shooter was sentenced to 44 years in prison.
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Flight 23 released the Jordan Future, and someone in line let out pepper spray.
When: March 2014
Where: New York City
What Happened: Before the release of more than a handful of inline colorways, the Jordan Future was a pretty limited sneaker. One of the shops that carried it was New York City's Jordan-only store, Flight 23. At the first release, the line got kind of crazy. At one point, the crowd bumrushed the door and an unidentified female got pressed up against. She felt threatened and pulled out a can of pepper spray and let it loose into the crowd. The police showed up on the scene and straightened things out.
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Trying to cut in line for "Yeezy" Foams results in bullets being fired.
When: April 2014
Where: New York City
What Happened: Isaiah Martinez, 15, tried to cut the line at a Foot Locker in Brooklyn that was for the Nike Air Foamposite Pro "Yeezy." In return, someone in the line pulled a gun on Martinez. The 15-year-old was shot in the foot, but not critically wounded. The store delayed the release of the sneakers until 11 a.m. that morning. They sold out by 6 p.m.
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A sneaker meet-up results in someone getting hit with pepper spray.
When: July 2014
Where: New Jersey
What Happened: 22-year-old Steve Cardona met up with an unidentified 16-year-old in Bridgewater, N.J., and he was set to give him $490 for a pair of Air Jordan VIs. The transaction didn't go as planned, though, as Cardona hit the minor with pepper spray, grabbed the sneakers, and ran off. He was charged with second-degree robbery.
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A gun was used to steal four pairs of sneakers from a seller.
When: August 2014
Where: Louisiana
What Happened: After advertising Air Jordans for sale on the Internet, a 17-year-old met up with four people and attempted to sell his sneakers for $160. He was offered $100 by the potential buyers, but refused the sum of cash. They went to get more money, but, instead, returned with a gun and robbed the 17-year-old of all the sneakers he had on him.
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Brockton, Mass. is hit with a string of violent episodes.
When: 2014
Where: Brockton, Mass. area
What Happened: In a short span, a few sneaker-related crimes happened in the Massachusetts city of Brockton. A 16-year-old was robbed at knife point for sneakers, an 18-year-old was beaten by four individuals for his Air Force 1s, and, even more chilling, a victim had his house broken into, his 13-year-old sister and grandparents tied up, and sneakers taken.
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An incident stemming from a pair of Air Force 1s almost cost a student his life.
When: October 2014
Where: Detroit
What Happened: A group of teenagers beat up a 16-year-old classmate after they were suspended for trying to steal his $130 Air Force 1s. According to the victim's mother, "He has a fractured skull, he has blood on his brain and he bit half of his tongue off" in a seizure that he suffered soon after the fight.
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A sneaker deal at a McDonald's goes awry.
When: November 2014
Where: Albany, N.Y.
What Happened: Two teenagers met in a McDonald's parking lot with the intention of trading cash for sneakers. 17-year-old Marquis Dixon, who was the purchaser in the situation, pulled out a handgun and robbed the other teen for his sneakers. He could face up to 25 years in jail.
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