On a Labor Day afternoon meant for cookouts and relaxation, violence shattered the peace on a street in Lawrence, Massachusetts. On September 3, 2018, Jaithian Amador, a 20-year-old male, was visiting a friend with his mother when gunfire erupted. The young man, known as "Jay" to friends and family, was struck by multiple bullets in what authorities believe was not a random act of violence. The shooting occurred around 5 p.m.
on Brook Street, a neighborhood that had seen its share of gang activity.
First responders and police officers arriving at the chaotic scene found Amador grievously wounded. They, along with EMTs, administered CPR in a desperate attempt to stabilize him before he was rushed to Lawrence General Hospital. Tragically, his injuries were too severe, and he was pronounced dead at the hospital. The attack was shockingly public, with some reports indicating that his own mother tragically witnessed the shooting, her shouts for help piercing the air after the sound of the gunshots faded.
A father to a young daughter, Amador was remembered by family and friends as a happy person who loved to joke around and could light up a room with his smile. His death marked the fourth homicide in the city of Lawrence that year. In the immediate aftermath, police cordoned off the neighborhood and interviewed witnesses, but the suspect or suspects had fled the scene.
Despite the ongoing efforts of the Essex District Attorney’s Office, the Essex State Police Detective Unit, and the Lawrence Police Department, the case has grown cold. To this day, no arrests have been made, and no suspects have been publicly identified in the murder of Jaithian Amador. His family and friends were left to mourn a life cut short, still waiting for justice to be served as the investigation remains open.
