Family and Friends honor shooting victim one year after his murder

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – Family and friends gathered to release balloons, pray and share memories of Tyler Williams one year after the shooting that killed him.

His family says the gathering wasn’t just about sharing memories, but also about making the community stronger.

“Fathers have got to step up for their sons. It’s not an inconvenience. You are the lifeline. Teach them how to be young men,” said a local preacher.

One year after the tragic shooting, there still hasn’t been an arrest for Tyler’s murder. However, grandmother Jackie Shannon is holding out hope that justice is coming.

“There’s going to be justice, one way or another because God takes care of everything, so there’s going to be justice. There’s probably already been. I lay down and I go to sleep. I wonder how well they sleep,” said Shannon.

In the meantime, Shannon hopes to be a beacon of hope for families that have lost loved ones by speaking out and participating in marches in a city that’s already seen 14 confirmed homicides this year.

The family also talked about the importance of working well with police and not being afraid to report crime in hopes of reducing the amount of violence in Lexington.