Anthony Ryan Billups, a 34-year-old Black man from Cincinnati, was known by his loved ones as a caring, humble, and forgiving person. His mother, Angela Billups, described him as her hero and a "gentle giant with a sincere heart of gold." A graduate of Mount Healthy High School, Anthony was a beloved son, brother, and fiancé who, even in death, gave to others as an organ donor.
On the afternoon of July 17, 2022, Anthony and his pregnant girlfriend, Jazmyne Jones, were at the Northside Flats Apartments on Kentucky Avenue. They were there to help Jones’s younger sister move out of her apartment. The sister’s ex-boyfriend, Deonte Wilson, arrived at the complex with his brother, Darrius Wilson, leading to an argument. Family members later said they had called 911 an hour before the shooting, reporting that Deonte had threatened to show up with a gun. Around 3 p.m., multiple shots were fired from the parking lot.
The bullets shattered a glass door and struck Anthony and Jones, who were inside the building.
Cincinnati police officers responded and found Anthony suffering from a gunshot wound. He was rushed to UC Medical Center but succumbed to his injuries. Jones was shot in the leg and taken to the hospital, where she underwent surgery and was later released. Her unborn baby was expected to be physically okay.
The investigation moved quickly. By 12:30 a.m. the next morning, police had arrested both Deonte and Darrius Wilson. The shooting had been captured on security video, and witnesses identified the brothers. Investigators stated that footage showed Deonte Wilson firing the shots with a gun they believed his older brother had given him. On July 26, 2022, a grand jury indicted both men on five counts, including murder and felonious assault.
Deonte Wilson was subsequently convicted for the murder of Anthony Billups. As of August 2026, he was incarcerated and serving his sentence for the killing. At that time, while in prison, he was indicted on new, unrelated charges in connection with a separate cold case homicide from 2017.
