JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The family of a teenager shot to death while waiting to catch a city bus earlier this year joined police and Crime Stoppers to ask for help finding his killer.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, along with the Justice Coalition and Families of Slain Children, held a news conference Wednesday morning at the site where 19-year-old Bilaal Shaw was killed Jan. 8 at the intersection of East First Street and Franklin Street on the Eastside.
Recommended Videos
Jacksonville Sheriff's Office detectives said they have only received one tip since Shaw was killed.
For Stamper, just standing at the bus stop where her son was killed is painful.
"I try to avoid coming by here," Pamela Stamper said. "It bothers me all the time."
Shaw was sitting at the bus stop when he was gunned down at 5 a.m. in January.
"He was very outgoing, happy, very helpful," Stamper said. "That's all I can say."
And now six months later, she's getting by remembering the happy times. But she has so many questions. Police still don't know who killed him and why.
"We take all of our cases very, very seriously," Sgt. Rick Hike said, "but when we have a truly innocent victim minding his own business, trying to do the right thing, going to to school trying to better educate himself, it hits us a little bit harder."
Video:
That's why police, the Justice Coalition and Crimestoppers came together with Shaw's family to ask for help from the community.
So far, the only tip Crimestoppers has received about the killing was a dead end.
"This case is six months old," said Wyllie Hodges, of Crimestoppers. "For whatever reason, we're not getting the tips. I don't know if that's out of fear or don't like the police or whatever the case may be. Call Crimestoppers."
Shaw's mother said her son was full of big dreams, dedicated to finishing school and to his family.
She said she prays that someone will see her pain and come forward.
"There's a lot of people that are afraid to tell because of retaliation or something like that," Stamper said, "but I want them to know the officers are here to protect them, that they don't have to be afraid, that they can gain their community back by telling."
If you have any information that can help police solve this crime, call Crimestoppers at 866-845-TIPS. Callers don't have to give a name and could receive a $1,000 reward.