One year later, still no justice for slain Tacoma teen
»Play Video
TACOMA, Wash. -- On a park bench, on the cusp of an anniversary, a mother knows not what next week will hold.
"I keep wondering: How is Monday going to feel?" asked Shalisa Hayes. "Am I going to crumble when that day comes?"
Monday will mark one year since her son was taken from her - one year when 17-year old Billy Ray Shirley should be marking the end of high school, thinking about a future, and investing in his Tacoma neighborhood, where he spent endless hours volunteering.
Instead, in that year, the person who gunned him down at a Tacoma party has walked free; free from justice, free from jail. His murder - along with a second one that police have tied to a motorcycle gang - remains unsolved.
"I don't spend a lot of time thinking about it, nor do I find myself getting angry about it," Hayes said about her son's unsolved murder. "Whether it's in a courtroom or in that person's bedroom, they're suffering some sort of way. Their judgment day will come."
While judgment has been elusive, joy, however, has not. Since Shirley's death, dozens of teens have been carrying out his vision, cleaning up parks, donating turkeys to needy families on Thanksgiving and raising thousands of dollars to help build a community center. They've also helped establish a foundation in Shirley's name.
"I can't save the world, and I don't have the answers to everything, but if I can do something to help (the kids) with their future and just making better choices, that's what I'm going to do," Hayes said.
Their mission continues on Saturday with the 1st Annual Kids Day at Lister Elementary School. The free event - which will include games, food, and fun - is a way to honor Shirley while raising money for his foundation, Hayes said.
"I think Tacoma (has seen) something beautiful," Hayes added. "What happened to Billy Ray is not unique, but what's beautiful about it is the kids that are developing certain things from it. His death has shared a light on something that has already been there."
"It's just now we sit back and ask: how long do we have to wait?" she said.
What a great story Lindsay, I got chills watching it and seeing how a mother is trying to find some way to turn this tragedy into a way to help other kids, amazing..
Motorcycle clubs have prominent members. Such as the Harley Davison club, who members include doctors, lawyers, police, judges, educators, etc. This may take awhile.
Shalisa Hayes I pray God can comfort you, I hope time can bring you peace and they find his killer or killers and bring him and you justice!
I cant stand being in tacoma anymore, I have complained to police about our neighborhood for months bein over run by crackheads and drug dealers, they dont do anything, this is what happens when u let rif raf run around they kill innocent ppl and this kid had a good life and someone took that from him and made this mother lose her precious child!!! cant stand this why dont ppl do more? Dont you get tired of seeing things like this happen, I do.
This kid was trying to make sure his friend got home safely and got shot. He was involved in his community - something few kids do. Stinks that no one is talking.
Well... this is the anti-police culture in Tacoma. It's forbidden for citizens to talk to police officers or give them information regarding crimes because it would be "collaborating with the enemy." Justice will be served once this culture of silence changes, but I doubt that will happen. Just like in central district or ranier valley, 40 people could have witnessed the shooting, but when the cops come to ask, no one say nothing and then attack the police.
Well Shalisa, you shoulda, oughta not have let your kid roam the streets @ 4am, huh?
We a local MC is holding a fundraiser run tooward the foundation.
Â