There will be a moment of silence on Friday night at Scripps Ranch High for a San Diego police officer killed in the line of duty.
Officer Chris Wilson, a 17-year veteran of the force, died Thursday morning from wounds suffered in a shootout with suspects holed up inside an apartment in the Skyline area. Two people were later found dead inside the apartment.
Students at Friday's Scripps Ranch game will be wearing purple, the color of courage and honor, at Friday night's football game. Wilson's daughter graduated from the school that his son still attends. The cheerleaders will be wearing purple in their hair, and the players will wear it as part of their uniforms.
Wilson's children are so overwhelmed and thankful for the support they continue to receive, which is so fitting for their dad and husband.
"I'd like to look at it as a celebration of his life, and, hopefully, if I can keep that attitude, it will keep me smiling and maybe we'll win," said Wilson's ex-wife, Tracy Wilson. "He'd like that."
"I'm just going to think to myself, 'I feel proud -- all that purple is out there for my dad,' " Wilson's son, Conner, said on Friday.
Seventeen-year-old Conner said his dad was his No. 1 fan, coaching him in sports since he was little, taking him fishing, working out with, helping him with his homework.
Wilson's daughter, Kaylee, said she loved to go on ride-alongs with her dad, with whom the 20-year-old had dinner at least twice a week.
Wilson was the kind of dad who was the Class Mom --- that's right ---the class mom ever since the kids were little.
"I remember when our daughter got to middle school, and he went in and said, 'Where do I sign up to be Class Mom?' and they said, 'We don't do Class Mom anymore in middle school,' and he was just so crestfallen. 'Are you kidding me? My Class Mom is over?'" said Tracy Wilson.
"I just want him to be remembered not only as a stellar police officer, but, overall, as an amazing dad," Conner said.
Tracy said she thought attending the game on Friday night would be difficult, but, she said, she does not want to miss any opportunity to honor Chris and tell people what an amazing man he was.
Given that, on Friday, NBCSanDiego chose to speak with the family, choosing not to bother them Thursday.
