The chairman of Nike's successful Jordan brand has revealed he murdered an innocent 18 year-old boy in 1965 while he was a gang member.
Larry Miller, 72, announced Wednesday in a Sports Illustrated interview that he served time in prison after fatally shooting Edward White when he was a 16 year-old member of Philly's Cedar Avenue gang
Miller says he took to the streets drunkenly and in search of revenge after one of his friends and fellow gang members was fatally stabbed by a member of the rival 53rd and Pine gang.
The business tycoon didn't know White, but wanted to avenge the murder of a fellow gang member, and says he ended up shooting and killing the first person he saw.
White did nothing to provoke him, and there's no suggestion he was a member of any other gang. He died on the spot after being shot with a .38 Miller had gotten from his girlfriend.
Explaining himself, Miller said: 'We were all drunk. I was in a haze. Once it kind of set in, I was like, "Oh, sh*t, what have I done?" It took years for me to understand the real impact of what I had done.
'That’s what makes it even more difficult for me, because it was for no reason at all.
'I mean, there was no valid reason for this to happen. And that’s the thing that I really struggle with and that’s—you know, it’s the thing that I think about every day. It’s like, I did this, and to someone who—it was no reason to do it. And that’s the part that really bothers me.'
Successful business executive and current Jordan brand chairman Larry Miller has publicly revealed that he served time in prison after fatally shooting a teenager in 1965
Miller is set to detail the murder in his upcoming book Jump
Miller has not revealed exactly what he was charged with in connection to White's death or how long he spent in jail, but did indicate he was in and out of juvenile detention and prison for various offenses between the ages of 13 and 30.
He says he came from a good home, with a mom and dad who loved and provided for him, and was a straight-A student. Miller says he went off the rails at 13 after deciding he wanted people to 'respect' him more.
He say's he'll share more details in his upcoming book, which is being co-written with his daughter. No photos of White have been shared, and members of his family have yet to comment.
Nike, famed for its desire to present itself as one of the United States' wokest corporations, has come out in support of its CEO with a gushing statement.
CEO John Donahue gushed: 'Larry Miller has played an influential role in Nike history and is a beloved member of the Nike family.
'His story is an example of the resilience, perseverance and strength of the human spirit. I hope his experience can create a healthy discourse around criminal justice reform, by helping remove the stigma that holds people and communities back.'
Miller, who has also held held prominent roles with Campbell Soup, Kraft Foods and the Portland Trail Blazers, decided to share his story after suffering from severe migraines and recurring nightmares. He hopes by going public, he can prevent others, specifically at-risk youth, from making a similar mistake.
'It was eating me up
