One-Year-Old Ohio Boy Killed in Random Drive By Shooting.
One-year-old Tyree Halsell Jr. was described an a loving child. The kind that comes into your life and you swear "they've been here before" because they're just that smart. He had recently learned to walk and was just beginning to use real words. His grandmother said that her precious grandson could have grown up to do anything, he was just that special.
Instead of becoming president, a CEO or developing a much needed cure, little Tyree's chances of changing the world were snuffed out in a random drive by shooting Sunday evening.
According to the Akron Beacon Journal Tyree was with his maternal grandmother at the time of the shooting. His grandmother, Kimberly Thompson, 47, and Brian James, 48, pulled into the driveway around 9:30 p.m. Moments after they exited a vehicle, there was a hail of gunfire.
Thompson and James both suffered leg injuries and were treated at Summa Akron City Hospital. A bullet hit the 20-month-old boy in his head. He died at the same hospital.
Tyree's paternal grandmother was having dinner with his father, Tyree Halsell Sr., when he got the news.
“I couldn’t breathe and my son was freaking out,” Wonderous Halsell said “He just kept saying, ‘Mom, I just hope this is not real. I can’t believe this. I just saw my son.’ ”
At this time the police have no suspects and no motive for this, seemingly, random shooting. Halsell is begging for anyone with information to contact the police. “Please, please, please, whoever killed my grandson, have a heart. Repent. Go to God,” Halsell said. “Take it to the Lord and turn yourself in.”
“We didn’t give him a chance to even get up and know what life is all about. He didn’t even get to know what life was,” she said. “If they don’t solve my grandson’s murder, I’m not going to rest.”
This is an absolutely heartbreaking time for this family. If you, or anyone you know, has any information please contact the Summit County Police Department. Summit County Crimestoppers is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to an arrest and indictment in the case. Tipsters can remain anonymous by calling 330-434-COPS.
