LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The mother of the teen shot at killed while waiting for a school bus last summer spoke after LMPD arrested two teen suspects this week.
What You Need To Know
- Sherita Smith is the mother of Tyree Smith, shot and killed Sept. 22
- Tyree Smith, 16, was killed while waiting at a JCPS bus stop
- Two other teens were injured from the apparent drive-by shooting
- LMPD has arrested and charged two 16 year olds with complicity to murder, first-degree complicity to assault and second-degree complicity to assault
Sherita Smith wasn’t expecting that kind of call from police this week.
“I didn’t expect it that day. I expected it to happen sometime but not that day," Smith said on Friday. It was the first time the mother of Tyree Smith has spoken since Louisville Police arrested two teens in connection with her son's death.
Two 16-year-old JCPS students were arrested by police this week for their alleged role in the Sept. 22 drive-by shooting at a school bus stop near W. Chestnut and W. J. Hodge St.
Sherita Smith said she is relieved by news of the arrest.
“I don’t think I’ll ever have closure because Tyree is gone. So, just waking up not being able to to hear him everyday, all loud and happy and goofy – I’ll probably never get closure for that, but I do have sense of relief."
Smith and Tyree's stepfather are also saddened for the families of those accused.
“It’s just shocking that it’s kids his age, you know, and Tyree did have a bright future.” Eric Shirley, Tyree's stepfather said. “In the courtroom today looking at children...children! I mean they ain’t no big guys these are literally kids that you are looking at, that went on missions..It’s just ridiculous."
Smith said she would consider a conviction as justice for her son.
“It would be justice for me. Even though it would be another kid in the justice system, but it’s no other place for them than jail. I don’t want them dead, I want them in jail," Smith said. “I just think us as a community has got to do better. These are kids.”
During a news conference on Thursday, Louisville Metro Police Department Lt. Donny Burbrink said the investigation is ongoing and investigators are not ruling out that more suspects could be involved.
Little information has been released about the suspects due to their age but on Friday Erica Shirley said his stepson Tyree wasn't a specific target of gunfire.
The two suspects are have been charged with complicity to murder, first-degree complicity to assault and second-degree complicity to assault.