PITTSBURGH — Several people who knew Tristan Taylor told Channel 11 the 18-year-old had a promising future before it was tragically cut short Tuesday night. Taylor, who just graduated from Pittsburgh Allderdice with honors, was shot and killed after Pittsburgh police said an argument broke out in the East Hills.
Channel 11 spoke with Tristan’s mom, who said the family was walking home from a balloon release, held in honor of Tristan’s cousin, Jo’Markius Fuller, who was shot and killed 8 years ago.
Brown says she’s still trying to come to terms with the fact that her family has to go through this again. Inside her home, balloons and decorations are still up.
“I didn’t take anything down,” she said.
They’re graduation balloons from three weeks ago, when Taylor walked across the stage and got his diploma.
“That was just like the best day. He walked across the stage and that was like the proudest moment.”
Twenty days later, Tristan died.
Brown said that as they were walking home from the balloon release, they approached a group of kids, who began taunting her son and other members of her family before Tristan was shot.
“Tristan was not threatening anybody. He even said, he’s like, ‘man, chill bro – I’m trying to go home.’ And the next thing I know, he’s standing beside me, and the little boy shoots him.”
Tristan was shot multiple times, taking his last breaths inside his aunt’s home nearby.
“I kept screaming, ‘Tristan – fight, fight.’ And he was trying.’”
His family is now struggling to come to terms with yet another loss.
“I keep crying on and off, because it’s like - I can’t call him, I can’t text him.”
They take comfort, however, in knowing that Tristan, Jo’markius, and Jonathan – who died by suicide shortly after his brother’s death – are together.
“I told my sister, I’m like, ‘I had to see you go through it.’ And she’s like, ‘and now I have to be strong for you.’”
Pittsburgh Public Schools issued a statement, saying students and teachers are mourning this deep loss, describing Tristan as the type of student who anyone could be friends with.
“He worked. He went to school. He was at my sister’s with my mom, reading bible scriptures.”
Brown says she hopes that justice is soon served. At last check, Pittsburgh Police have not made any arrests, but the investigation is ongoing.
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