COLORADO SPRINGS – The mother of a Sand Creek High School student who died from a gunshot wound to the head earlier this year is pleading with her son’s friends and acquaintances to come forward with info that can solve the mystery of who pulled the trigger.
Tyrese Gayle died from gunfire at a late-night gathering on March 16. His mom, Mia, says she believes somebody who was at that gathering was either a direct witness to or has knowledge that can prove whether the wound was self-inflicted, accidentally or intentionally, or whether he was shot by someone else. A coroner’s examination did not provide conclusive determination. “I want answers for my son,” Mia said. “He was 17 years old and didn’t deserve to die like this.”
Multiple balloon-releases have been held since Tyrese’s death, attended by friends and classmates, some of whom Mia says were at the gathering where Tyrese was shot. Yet none have provided information to her or police leading to answers surrounding the circumstances of his death. “I know that some of this is about snitching — not wanting to talk,” Mia said.
Gayle worries that answers may be even harder to come by when the detective handling Tyrese’s case leaves the department at the end of the year. “I want answers before he leaves,” Mia said. “I’m not saying that another detective won’t care as much, but he has been fighting really hard for Tyrese.” Colorado Springs police have not provided News 5 any information about the investigation so far.
“Tyrese was just a loved kid who was at the wrong place at the wrong time, and that’s what took his life,” Mia said.
