Start snitching! Family of murder victim wants witnesses to speak up

$2,500 reward offered to help solve case of Detroit man shot, left for dead on sidewalk

Yolanda Taylor Washington can't stand the rain.

"I get an instant depression upon me on the rain because it was raining that day," Washington said.  

The day Washington is referencing is Oct. 17, 2013, when her son, Tyler Taylor, was shot and killed.

"Until you have a son or any child laying in a cemetery 6 feet under, you will never know my pain.  You'll never know it," Washington said.

Taylor was discovered at 10 a.m. on the sidewalk in the 12000 block of Duchess near Morang and Kelly streets with a gunshot wound to his head.

"My son was shot inside of a car," said Washington.

Nine days before her son's death, Washington was helping her son celebrate his 20th birthday. Nearly two years after she buried him, she still struggles knowing his killer remains free.

"As a mother, how do you live with that? You try to stay prayed up, you try to stay positive," she said.

Taylor was a tattoo artist. Washington said he taught himself.

"Let me tell you something: Tyler was an amazing kid. If they would have just known his heart," Washington said. "Don't get me wrong, I can't tell you what my son wasn't doing when I wasn't around -- kids going to be kids -- but I do know this: Tyler would never carry a gun, Tyler respected adults, Tyler loved people."

In the days, months and years since Taylor's death, his family works to keep the case from going cold.

"My daughter and family members, we get out and put up the fliers, we walk the neighborhoods, we walk so that somebody can tell," Washington said.

Crime Stoppers is offering up to a $2,500 cash reward for a tip that leads to an arrest in this case.

Detroit police have no new leads on this case. The department wants Local 4 News to show viewers Tayler's picture and remind them of the case details, hoping those who know what happened will come forward.

"I am my son's voice... I am not going to let it rest," said Washington.

She said both her aunt and brother were also murdered. Their cases are unsolved as well. She wants people to speak up and stop protecting those behind the violence.

"This no-snitching rule has to stop. You won't understand it until you're standing in the position I'm in. These young guys are taking over and at the end of the day they have no remorse.  They don't care, but until it's your family member, you want someone to speak up," Washington said.

Remember, when you call Crime Stoppers, you are anonymous. The number is 1-800-SPEAKUP.

You can also submit a tip by clicking here.