Family, friends say missing University of Memphis student vanished the night before graduation

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Have you seen this man?

Barshay Wilson is a University of Memphis student who vanished the night before his graduation.

The Memphis Police department issued a City Watch alert for Wilson over the weekend.

He’s described as 6″ tall, 240 pounds, with black braids.

He was last seen wearing a purple tracksuit, police said.

“No one deserves to be missing. His family definitely wants him to be brought back home,” said James Beasley, a fellow UofM student.

Wilson’s mother said that the 25-year-old told her that he was going to a party Friday night.

Later that night, she said got a phone call from a friend who said Wilson left her house and had not returned.

The friend claims Wilson visited her for 15 minutes before getting a phone call.

He stepped outside to take it.

The friend said that when she looked outside for him a little while later, his car was parked outside but said that he was nowhere to be found.

The friend then used the Find My iPhone app to locate him, but could not.

“So much has happened on the University of Memphis campus this semester, and that just adds to it. Obviously, I’m hoping, praying, wishing for the best,” said Celleste Williams, a fellow student.

Wilson was set to graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree on Sunday but was not at the ceremony, leaving friends, family and fellow students concerned.

“To see a man make it to this point of success,” Beasley said. “The graduation rate of African-Americans is so low and for this to happen. Definitely heartbreaking.”

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