A man who was fatally shot in Milwaukee on Saturday was a 2020 graduate of University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
Purcell Pearson, 22, graduated from the university in May.
Several area news agencies, including ABC affiliate WKOW-TV, Madison, reported that Pearson was seen on surveillance video holding onto the side of a minivan. The shots that killed Pearson were alleged to have come from the van.
In June of 2020, a story featuring Pearson was posted on the university’s website. The story, written by Jeffrey Pohorski, outlined many of Pearson’s college-career achievements.
On June 17, Pearson, a psychology major, won the WiSys Quick Pitch State Final, a competition between student researchers from across the UW System. The competition focused on the importance of communicating research to the public, according to Pohorski’s story.
As part of the competition, Pearson completed a research project, entitled: “Racial Bias in News Media and its Effects on Black Males’ Self-Image.”
The research sought to understand “how black males perceive they are depicted in news media and whether these perceptions influence their daily lives,” Pohorski wrote in his story.
Pearson was quoted in the story as saying that he believed his research was timely, noting: “Police reform is a topic that is on everyone’s mind and so I think research like this could play a key role in police reform …”
The story credits Pearson, a leader within the Black Student Union, with creating a police officer liaison position on campus to represent concerns brought by Black students.
In the story, Pearson was reported to have shared his future plans, which included earning a doctorate in clinical psychology and opening a mental health practice within an impoverished and multicultural neighborhood.
Pearson was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and president of the fraternity’s Zeta Iota chapter. Accompanying the story is his picture taken with UW-Whitewater Chancellor Dwight C. Watson as he received on behalf of his fraternity the James R. Connor Spirit Cup. The cup was awarded to the fraternity in October of 2019 during homecoming week. Pearson was the campus homecoming king.
Purcell Pearson (UW-Whitewater photo/Craig Schreiner)
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