SAN ANTONIO – Blake Lamkin opened Skinny Black’s BBQ to nourish San Antonio's East Side and use it as a way to honor his late son, Marquise "Skinny Black" Jones.

What You Need To Know

  • Marquise Jones killed by off-duty police officer in 2014

  • Father named restaurant, Skinny Black's BBQ, in his honor

  • Family lost wrongful death lawsuit against City of San Antonio 

  • Now calling on police funding to be allocated elsewhere

A framed Paul Pierce jersey is a reminder of Marquise Jones’ favorite NBA players, who were Pierce and LeBron James. His mother, Cheryl Jones, says he was a standout basketball player himself. His family called him "Dwyane Wade." 

Several photos of Marquise Jones are displayed in the restaurant, and Cheryl Jones believes it’s a way for memories of her son to live on.  

“He always said, he used to tell me all the time, he said, ‘Mom, everybody in the world is going to know my name.’ I didn’t think it was going to be this," Cheryl Jones said.

Blake Lamkin cuts through a brisket in the kitchen of his restaurant, Skinny Black’s BBQ, which is named after his late son Marquise “Skinny Black” Jones.

Marquise Jones was killed by an off-duty San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) officer in 2014 after a fender bender at a San Antonio restaurant. The off-duty officer, working as a security guard, saw Marquise Jones running from the crash scene. Some witnesses said he had a gun when the officer opened fire. A grand jury voted not to indict the officer. So now, besides running a restaurant, Marquise Jones's family is calling for police department funding cuts.

“Put it in use where it belongs, you know, in these young kids and education for them,” said Cheryl Jones, holding a photo of her late son. “They always talk about them, no education. Jobs this and that. Well, invest your money into it.”

Cheryl Jones saw how vital education could be. Her son graduated early from Holmes High School in San Antonio. All summer long organizers in town have pushed to reallocate the funds. Instead, San Antonio city leaders are proposing an $8 million increase to SAPD’s budget, including pay raises for police officers and 25 additional officer positions dedicated to domestic violence prevention and intervention.

However, the family, who filed and later lost a wrongful death civil suit against the city of San Antonio, doesn’t think of that will change the way police act.  

“Anybody that had to do a part with my son's investigation and have done absolutely nothing about it, they shouldn’t even be working anymore,” Cheryl Jones says. 

As San Antonio’s city budget planning continues, the family will keep working to keep Marquise Jones’ name alive.

“Just to show people, you know, you can still try to do positive things amongst all of this,“ Cherly Jones said, crying.

Cheryl Jones talks to a customer at Skinny Black’s BBQ.