Families of Black men, women killed by law enforcement show support for Jason Walker's family

Editor's note: This is a corrected version of the original story. Tenicka Shannon is the mother of Fred Cox who was shot and killed by law enforcement in Davidson County in November 2020. Her name was incorrect in the original story. A statement attributed to Allison Smutherman, the aunt of Treva Smutherman who was shot and killed by law enforcement in Fayetteville in November 2019, was incorrect.

Friends and family of an unarmed Fayetteville man shot by an off-duty deputy earlier this week were joined Friday by other Black families whose loved ones were killed by law enforcement.

Followed by the playing of Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come,” green and blue balloons were released outside of the Cumberland County Courthouse in memory of 37-year-old Jason Walker.

When a few of the balloons got caught in trees, a member of Walker’s family said it was a sign.

“He ain't ready to go yet,” she said. “Justice gotta be served … He ain't going nowhere 'til it’s served."

Members of the community have protested and called for Lt. Jeffrey Hash to be arrested in Walker's case.

Hash, an off-duty lieutenant with the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office, has claimed self-defense after shooting Walker on Bingham Drive in front of the Walker family home Saturday afternoon.

Prior to the balloon release, a group of more than 100 people marched in downtown Fayetteville.

Walker’s cousin said she wanted to make it clear that the march was not a riot or protest but rather a peaceful walk.

She said that Walker’s mother and the family want peace and unity.

“Jason was somebody's father, somebody's son, somebody's brother, somebody's cousin, somebody's grandchild,” his cousin said through tears. “It hurts. I’m telling you. He was a great person, always was talkative. He would do anything in the world for anybody, but please keep the peace.”

Joining the march were other local families and families from across the nation whose loved ones were shot or killed by law enforcement.

Jacob Blake Sr., whose son Jacob Blake, 29, was shot and seriously injured Aug. 30, 2020, by a Kenosha, Wisconsin, police officer, spoke to the crowd, asking how many times he’ll have to stand with other families.

“We're going to show what unity is, but we’re’ getting tired,” Blake Sr. said as tears streamed down his face. “We're getting tired, so we need everyone to stand up. Show your unity. Show the power that you possess. Demand accountability.”

A relative of Breonna Taylor, who also spoke, shared similar sentiments.

Taylor, was a Black woman shot and killed by police March 1, 2020, in her Louisville, Kentucky, home as officers attempted to serve a warrant on boyfriend.

Taylor’s relative said Walker is the next “American tragedy.”

“We’re still in these streets fighting for justice for Breonna Taylor, and on top of that, unfortunately, Jason Walker has to be added to that list,” she said.

Sabara Fisher-Roberts, the widow of Adrian Roberts, said it seems like she was just in the shoes of the Walker family.

Roberts, 37, was a disabled veteran shot and killed by Cumberland County deputies serving him with involuntary commitment papers in August 2020

“This family shouldn’t have to go through this, and the thing is, there are more families like the Walker family, Roberts family and these other families who are standing here, and their stories have been hidden,” Fisher-Roberts said.

Fisher-Roberts said families are raising their voices not out of hostility but out of pain.

“It's pain when you got to bury your loved one,” she said. “It's pain when that child, Jason Walker’s child … will not get the privilege of having his dad with him. It is pain. It’s not hostility. It is pain. We are hurting.

Tenicka Shannon, mother of Fred Cox, also came to Fayetteville to show solidarity.

Cox, 18, was killed by a Davidson County deputy Nov. 8, 2020, during a funeral service.

Also at the march was Allison Smutherman, the aunt of Treva Smutherman,

killed Nov. 6, 2019, at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center after law enforcement said he tried to take a weapon from a deputy in the emergency room. His aunt said her nephew was shot after he surrendered.

"We are tired. And every single time (it happens) here in Fayetteville, North Carolina, they're never held accountable. We are tired," Smutherman said.

The brother of Matthew Oxendine, a Robeson County man shot and killed by deputies there Jan. 10, 2021, said his brother was killed for allegedly communicating threats.

Greg Oxendine said his brother and Walker were shot “for no reason,” as both were unarmed.

“Mr. Walker’s (death) can’t be justified, and if they do give you justice, you still don’t have that loved one,” Greg Oxendine said. “The loved one is gone. So when’s it going to stop? How much more are we going to take?”

Travis Cains came to Fayetteville from Houston on Friday night to attend the demonstration.

Cains said he was a close friend of George Floyd, who he viewed as an older brother.

Floyd, who was born in Fayetteville, was killed May 25, 2020, as then-officer Dereck Cauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck for more than eight minutes. Chauvin was convicted in April of murdering Floyd and sentenced to more than 22 years in prison.

Cains said America needs to stand with the Walker family as it did for the Floyd family.

“If y’all stay silent, they’re going to keep on being violent,” Cains said.

Family of Jason Walker lead ceremonial balloon release outside Cumberland County Courthouse

Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at rriley@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3528.

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More: What we know about Jason Walker's shooting death in Fayetteville

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Fayetteville family of man killed by deputy receive national support