Wilson was a convicted criminal, having escaped previous charges on assault and murder, he was finally convicted of an armed robbery of an armored car (along with Cruz) and sentenced to prison when he wouldn't identify his accomplices. In 1988, Wilson and Cruz were attending a prison concert when a riot broke out, both Wilson and Cruz were smuggled out in music equipment boxes, then shot dead the person who helped them and went looking for Scotty McKenna, who was the driver of the getaway car, and Doc Jerry, who knew where the haul from the robbery was. En route they carjacked two people, set fire to a gas station booth, and took a woman, Kathleen Gilfords, hostage. Metro-Dade Detective James "Sonny" Crockett went out in pursuit, but was stopped by the cons. After Crockett subdued Scotty,