In the spring of 2022, a family's life was irrevocably altered by an act of violence. On May 6, 2022, 18-year-old Tyshaunda Riles was fatally shot in New Orleans. Known to her loved ones as 'Tyddy,' Tyshaunda was a young woman with a passion for fashion, hair, and makeup, and was cherished by her large circle of family and friends.
The circumstances surrounding her death pointed to a domestic dispute.
Her boyfriend at the time, Shawn May, was identified as the individual responsible for the shooting. The incident was not part of a wider, random act of violence but rather a targeted act that tragically cut short a young life.
Following an investigation into the shooting, Shawn May was apprehended and faced legal proceedings for his role in Tyshaunda's death. Ultimately, he was sentenced to five years in prison for the killing of Tyshaunda Riles, a conclusion to the case that brought a measure of legal closure to a deeply painful event. The loss of Tyshaunda was a profound tragedy, deeply felt by her mother who had tragically lost another child to gun violence just two years prior.
