Relatives remember that Lawrence Teen would have been killed on his 18th birthday last year – the Lawrence Times

When Natasha Neal hugs her late son's child, well -known eyes look back on her. The 4 -month -old baby never hit his father, but has his name and much more.

“He smiled so much, just like this little boy,” said Natasha, pointing to the similarity between her son Isaiah Neal and the grandson Isaiah Neal Jr.

Isaiah was shot on June 13, 2024 in front of his family's town house in the 2400 block of the Alabama Street.

He would have turned 18 on Wednesday, so his family and friends gathered in Holcom Park that evening to celebrate a life – a potluck with fried fish by Natasha's cousin Benjamin Woods, a bouncing house and water features for children and music to dance.

“Even when he was angry, he smiled,” said Natasha about Isaiah. “I'm sad, but I'm trying to be happy because I know that he would want that. He was a happy person.”

Isaiah Jr., who has the same blue -green eye color as his father, gave several smiles to different people in an interview for this article.

Natasha said in almost the year since Isaiah's death that she missed his voice.

“His voice had just started being deep,” said Natasha. “I would speak during my breaks at night. When I got off work, he was always at this window or outside to make sure I got on. He was always very protective.”

She misses the things they used to be annoyed – like his loud music in the morning. He was an early booker with a routine This started to blow up the rap artist NBA Youngboy and other favorites.

Isaiah was a rapper himself, but loved all music genres, said Natasha. Before he died, he stuck from the country artist Shaboozey, who performed at an event at an event at the University of Kansas in the following September at an event at the University of Kansas.

Isaiah's little sister, Sa'hāla Cook, and his grandmother said they also miss him very much. He had been to Sa'hāla's drive every day and from school, so this year she switched to homeschooling because she could no longer endure his absence at the pick -up time.

Natasha described Isaiah as “Great Big Brother” and natural donor. She remembered an early memory of buying a few Jordan that he really wanted. Then, when she picked him up from school, his teacher said that his shoes had missed. It turned out that Isaiah had given his new J to a classmate who had holes in his shoes.

“He was a good -hearted person,” said Natasha. “I have the feeling when you lose someone how you keep their legacy running.

Weapons have demanded life of several Lawrence Teenagers in the past two years, including Isaiah, Kamarjay Shaw and Brianna “Bri” Higgins, who were all friends.

Isaiah experienced a lot of loss at 17, and Natasha said that his room was “like a monument” with tribute t-shirts and death ads everywhere. She said she didn't pretend to understand exactly what children are going through, but these colleagues in Isaiah did not feel safe in this community.

The 19-year-old CIR Allen Keith Glover from Lawrence, who is charged with the first degree murder, is suspected. His legal proceedings have been delayed twice and is currently determined from July 7th to 11th, with a hearing for Tuesday for Tuesday.

The attempt to mourn in a simultaneous pursuit of justice has proven to be difficult, Natasha admitted, but she said that she continued to apply for an obligation from the law enforcement authorities. Your attitude is “forever Isaiah”.

Maya Hodison (you/she), Equity reporter, can be reached at mhodison@lawrencekstimes.com. Read more of your work for the times. Take a look at the biography here.

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