Two years after the killing of Tyrone Love, code against snitching leaves case cold

Tyrone Love was walking on Cherry St between 26th and 27th in the early morning of February 16, 2009, when he was killed. A man pulled up in a car, jumped out and shot Love multiple times before getting back in and speeding away. He was wearing an oversized hoodie, but the police do not have enough details to build a case.

To this day, the case remains open and unsolved. Love’s family and SPD believe there are people who know what happened that night, but are afraid to speak up. They have teamed up with The Silent War to spread the message that the code against snitching is wrong. Murder is always wrong, and those responsible need to be caught to prevent more violence and to give mourning families closure, they said at a press conference June 20.


 

Tyrone Love’s sisters said they need closure.

“It’s still there, this mystery over your head of, ‘Who did this to my brother?'” said Tyrone’s sister Gweldolyn Love at the conference, which was held near the spot where the murder occurred. Gweldolyn and Christyna Bradford, another sister of Tyrone’s, had tears when talking about the killing.

“We still need that closure,” said Gwendolyn.

The Silent War is a local campaign lead by the Reverend Harriett Walden that urges youth to break the code of silence and help bring killers to justice. The group is launching a media campaign that includes online social media and flyers to help spread the word about how peopel with knowledge about a crime can report it. People can even make reports annonymously either through the SPD tips line or through the national organization Crime Stoppers. You can also text tips to crime stoppers.

More information on how to do that, from SPD:

Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to call the Homicide tip line at (206) 233-5000.  Anonymous tips are welcome.  Calls are taken 24 hours a day. 

Those not wanting to call police directly may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800 222-TIPS (8477) or send a text to CRIMES (274637).  Your text message should include “TIP486” to ensure proper routing. If a tip leads to an arrest and the filing of charges, callers may qualify for a cash reward of up to $1000.

The Silent War poster:

 

5 thoughts on “Two years after the killing of Tyrone Love, code against snitching leaves case cold

  1. This is something I do not understand. We have all these killings and the neighbors don’t speak because of some weak code. Don’t snitch? Well stop complaining about the murders.
    Tell me how many years this scenario happens. A young black youth is killed. T-shirts are made, people crying, pastors saying “we have to stop the killing” Way too many and it never changes because we have a bunch of losers in the neighborhood. I just get frustrated of people letting killers on the loose. Be men and take it stand.

  2. Great guy, whose family really needs closure…please speak up, if you know anything about his killer(s). You’d want the same if it were your family member.

  3. I’d love to know who you think you’re protecting…it’s not the good guys, that’s for sure.

  4. has anyone ever considered that people are afraid to snitch? i imagine they could be in fear of retaliation. folks are in fear of their lives. my heart goes out to the family and loved ones of Tyrone, but i can understand people’s reluctance to come forward with any information.

  5. I had the pleasure of meeting Tyrone briefly about a week before he was killed. I worked for a now closed company called Evans Glass, and it was my first night out attempting to sign up CD residents for a vinyl window demonstration at their convenience. Tyrone was the first person to sign one of my lead sheets, after only briefly speaking with me at his home. His words were along the lines of, “I always help little homies on their hustle.” We shared a cigarette. I could tell he genuinely wanted to help me have a good first day on the job. I got dizzy when less than ten days later I found out he was killed a few feet from where I spoke with him. Whoever did this took from Seattle a young man whose kindness and integrity could be felt within seconds of meeting him. It really is a shame that no one has come forward.