May 19, 2025 | By: Courtney Lynch, PCC Volunteer

Clayton Hemingway Jr., affectionately known as “CJ” by friends and family, loved the game of basketball. It wasn’t unusual for CJ to go play ball and spend hours at the court according to his mother, Dionne Boyd.

On the crisp evening of November 4^th, 2017, as he was headed home, after giving it all he had on the basketball court, CJ was approached by two young males outside his apartment building in Brooklyn, New York.

One of the males pointed a gun at CJ and pulled the trigger. In an instant, the dreams and goals CJ wanted to achieve were snatched from him. Despite being transported to the local emergency room, CJ was pronounced deceased.

A young life taken too soon at the tender age of 16.

His dream of being a basketball star was stolen.

Laid to rest in a “money” green casket, over 500 attendees mourned the life of CJ following the fatal shooting. The most bereaved of all was his mother, Dionne. With a heavy breath, Dionne lamented, “He will always be my basketball star. His mom was his biggest fan.”

Despite having footage of the suspects leaving the scene of the shooting, nearly 8 years have passed, and CJ’s case remains unsolved.

Dionne asserted, “I have to tell his story; he is not here to tell it.”

CJ was a native of Flatbush, New York. He had two sisters and two brothers. As a toddler, Dionne recalled CJ’s father giving him a mini basketball hoop for a birthday present. There was a spark that ignited in his soul.

Dionne eventually signed CJ up for a basketball team run by Coach Lloyd when he was 6 or 7 years old. “He fell in love with it,” she remembered. Coach Lloyd heard time after time about how CJ “would go to sleep in bed with the ball.”

Coach Lloyd recalled CJ being “very coachable” and described him as well-mannered on and off the court. Coach Lloyd exclaimed, “His mannerisms, his sportsmanship, he was a leader.” Coach Lloyd went on to say, “He got along with the kids he played with and the kids he played against…He didn’t get into fights, [and] there were no problems from him.”

According to his basketball coach, what made CJ special was how he handled the ball. “He had a sweet, sweet jump shot. He could throw it in the net without hitting the rim,” said Coach Lloyd. Even more, other kids, younger and older, looked up to CJ. He would teach other children how to play basketball. He was “into coaching, teaching the kids, [and] being involved.” CJ undoubtedly had “teaching ability,” says Coach Lloyd. If CJ were alive today at age 24, Coach Lloyd imagines that after getting done with college ball, CJ would be a basketball coach too.

CJ played for Coach Lloyd until he was 14 years old and then went on to play on his high school’s varsity team as a point guard in his junior year. Dionne stated, “All eyes were on Clay” when he played. She went to nearly every game of his and cheered him on from the stands. Dionne said she would yell, “They on you! You better shoot it!” and CJ knew that meant other players were on his tail and he needed to score. Dionne laughed a deep belly laugh as she reminisced. “Everyone loved him.”

CJ liked shooting free throws and when the other team saw him coming, they knew they were going to lose the game. In fact, CJ was so good, he was even beginning to be recruited by college teams. Dionne, instead, had CJ focus on school. CJ understood he needed to finish his education first.

As a student, CJ never failed a class. He couldn’t if he wanted to stay on the basketball team. He seamlessly balanced school, basketball, and part-time work. After school, CJ would sometimes visit his big brother, Dorrie, at his job. CJ had recently been promoted to uncle and unfortunately died a few days short of his nephew’s first birthday. Dorrie stated, “CJ had a lot of life to live, a lot of potential, and his life was cut short.” Dorrie said that what hurts the most is that his young son and CJ “resemble each other a little” and it’s “nerve-wrecking [and] traumatizing” for him to think about.

As a way to honor him and the wonderful human he was, his family does several things every year to remember CJ: a memorial basketball tournament, a vigil on the anniversary of his death, a Justice Walk, and a birthday celebration and cookout.

For the basketball tournament, Dionne calls on Coach Lloyd to secure the park and help set up for the event. Dorrie likes the “MVP CJ Award” trophies Dionne gives out to the young players. Old teammates and neighborhood kids show up to play basketball and commemorate CJ’s life and love for the game. Dionne gives out back-to-school supplies and gifts to the children who come out to support her son every fall.

Coach Lloyd stated, “[Dionne] is gonna keep having this basketball game. She is not gonna let it go at all.” He went on to say that Dionne “hurts so much because that person [the suspect] has not been found… It’s unreal that no one has come forth, that bothers us, hurts us, [the suspect] is still running around living life.”

The annual Justice Walk that Dionne hosts is a rally to push for the police and the community to continue to find justice for CJ. Crime Stoppers increased their award from $5,000 to $10,000 in 2021 for anyone that has information that will help solve this mystery. Their number is 800-577-TIPS and callers can remain anonymous. However, Dionne sadly stated, “No tips have come in.”

Despite going through her own tragedy, Dionne urges those who are in a similar situation to keep advocating for their loved one. She stated that joining a support group has been beneficial for her. What keeps Dionne going is her faith. She believes CJ is still in her heart. She remarked, “When I get overwhelmed, I say, ‘I gotta sit down for a minute.’ Then I say my prayers and get back up.”

He was a good person. “I want the public to know that.” CJ’s memory gives her the energy she needs to keep fighting for him and to remind the public that her son’s case remains unsolved.

CJ should have been a basketball star. “I will always be a fan of my son Clayton Hemingway,” declared Dionne.

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Anyone with information concerning Clayton Hemingway Jr’s unsolved homicide is asked to call the New York Police Department – 75th Precinct Detective Squad at (718) 827-3458 or 3459. To remain anonymous and possibly be eligible for a reward, call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS (8477).

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