‘My son didn’t deserve this.’ Father says Belleville boy playing video game when he was shot

Wendel Scott Jr. said Thursday there are no words to adequately explain the pain he carries over the shooting death of his 10-year-old son, Brandon E. Scott, who was killed when someone fired into a Roosevelt Avenue home just outside of Belleville city limits.

“My son didn’t deserve this,” Scott said in an interview with the BND. “ He was inside of the house playing a video game. This doesn’t make any sense.”

Two people have been charged with first-degree murder in Scott’s July death July 3 death, the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis announced Friday.

In a BND interview the day before charges were issued, an emotional Scott described Brandon as a quiet, yet outgoing “good kid” with a larger-than-life personality that could light up a room. Scott said they had a tight bond.

“He went everywhere with me,” he said. “...I could not have wished for a better son. He was simply the best. He was just a kid - a modern kid who loved to play video games.”

Brandon was into virtual reality video games, his father said. He recently turned 10, and Scott bought him a new bike.

“My son is the most respectful, well-mannered, loving, and protective child,” Scott said. “I couldn’t ask for a better son. I am so, so, so blessed to have him as my son. “

“...I have been complimented on how well-mannered, well-spoken and positive my son is,” Scott said.

They spent time together swimming, at water parks and going to other fun places, like the zoo.

Scott said Brandon had big dreams.

“First, he used to tell me he wanted to be an astronaut. Here in the recent days, he said he wanted to be a YouTuber or a Mr. Beast. He’s a billionaire YouTuber who gives away money and cars to people. He buys people houses, “ Scott said, chuckling.

He said he was just getting ready to introduce his son to sports.

“We were getting ready to get into baseball. I told him it was time to get him into sports. He was dead set on baseball,” Scott said.

Scott was at work on Monday, July 3, the night of the shooting. When he took a break, he saw he had missed a call from his son’s maternal grandmother.

“At 10 p.m, she was real frantic, screaming that I needed to get there immediately. I didn’t know what was going on,” he said. “His little sister (a 7-year-old) sent me a text message from her phone saying he had been shot.”

Scott went straight to Memorial Hospital, where his son was pronounced dead at 10:59 p.m., according to St. Clair County Coroner Calvin Dye Sr.

How will Scott keep his son’s memory alive?

“I will have to bring myself together and stay positive for my daughter. She is here with me now. She is so confused right now,” Scott said.

As for the people who fatally shot his son, “I don’t want them to ever see the light of day again outside of a jail cell,” he said. “ I wish they could get the death penalty.”

Scott said he wants friends and family to know “that we all appreciate the tremendous amounts of love that is being sent to us in prayers and phone calls. It’s hard to breathe right now. But, I want everybody to know we appreciate them very much for their presence at this very difficult time.”

He said he agreed to speak with the BND on behalf of his son.

“I want people to know he was a good son, but an even greater human being. If you knew him, you loved him. He was a very sweet, loving kid.”

Debbie Moore, Brandon’s aunt, said this week that she wants swift, hard justice for the people responsible for her nephew’s death.

“That baby didn’t deserve to die the way he did,”she said. “He was an innocent boy who was in his house playing his video games. Children are not safe in their homes anymore.”

She said reckless behavior took an innocent boy’s life.

“He was loved by his family, teachers, friends, and those in the community who knew him. His life mattered,” she said.

This story was originally published July 7, 2023 at 7:13 AM.