Blake Bozeman, a former Morgan State University basketball player who was killed in a shooting in Northeast D.C., was honored on Tuesday at an exhibition basketball game.
Howard and American University basketball teams played in Blake’s memory to raise awareness about gun violence.
“He wasn’t just an athlete, he was a businessman, he was a realtor, he did community service,” his father, Todd Bozeman, said with tears on his face.
Blake was celebrating a friend’s birthday when a gunman opened fire at Cru Hookah Lounge on H Street NE in September. He was killed and three others were injured.
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He was 31 when he died and was known as a devoted husband and father of three. When he played at Morgan State University, he was coached by his father and broke records in 2011-2015.
Blake ran an organization called The Pivot Group that helps athletes transition from sports to other pursuits. He likely helped athletes on both the Howard and American teams. The coaches of both teams knew Blake Bozeman and were coached by his father.
“To bring awareness to gun prevention and gun violence, but also to honor Blake Bozeman, is something that is at the core of this game here today,” Kenny Blakeney, Howard University’s men’s basketball coach, said.
“We’re doing this for Blake Bozeman, a young man that I knew, I’ve known for quite some time, known his dad almost all my life,” said Duane Simpkins, American University men’s basketball coach.
That connection to Blake was visible before the game in the moment of silence and on the court.
“Some people say he finished the race but, he really didn’t finish the race because he didn’t get his kids through,” Todd Bozeman said.”He’s not going to be able to walk his daughter down the aisle, do the father-daughter dance. None of that, so that makes it harder.”
Ticket sales from the game went to an organization called the Far Southeast Family Strengthening Collaborative, a group that aims to help families and children develop a game plan for productive lives. There’s also a fund for Bozeman’s children’s college education, along with an outpouring of support for his family.
“We’re grateful and gracious for what the schools have done and what the community -- the uplifting from the community, it’s tremendous,” Blake’s mother, TeLethea Bozeman, said.
