Murder Mystery: Heartbroken family pleads for help in finding killer of Federal Way teen, Jeffrey McLaren
FEDERAL WAY -- A young man with his whole life ahead of him -- gunned down and left to die.
There's been a lot of chatter on social media about what happened, but all the talk hasn't led to identifying his killers.
So now, Jeffrey McLaren's family is appealing directly to you.
"We are missing someone that was vital to us and to die at 19 is a life unfulfilled," said Jeffrey’s aunt, Lisa Wollum.
He was gunned down a little more than a month ago in the parking lot of a Federal Way apartment complex.
“People that were calling 911 said they had heard multiple gunshots,” said Cathy Schrock with the Federal Way Police.
Two suspects were seen running from the scene, but detectives haven't been able to identify them.
Jeffrey's family says he was an amazing musician. "We got to see him play live with his band several times,” recalls his aunt. “He would also just play for us a family and pull out his guitar and start singing."
He was also an avid skateboarder with a large family who adored him. "He had a very kind soul, very giving, very generous with his time,” said his aunt.
They are asking for the public's help to identify his killer. “We`d like somebody brave enough to take a risk to call in,” pleads Jeffrey’s grandmother, Mary McLaren.
Jeffrey was a person of interest in a murder in Tacoma, but no charges were filed because prosecutors deemed it a case of self-defense. His grandmother pleads for the violence to end, 'We don`t want more shootings to happen. We don`t want more retaliation. We want it to stop and stop now.'
Federal Way Police are certain there are people who know who was involved in Jeffrey's death. Schrock adds, “We know that maybe Jeffrey didn`t have the best associates and maybe he was doing some things he shouldn`t have been doing in the last several years, but still what happened to him was violent and senseless."
Jeffrey's grandfather, Doug McLaren, is hoping someone will come forward but he also has a message for other young men. “You have to think about what you want your life to be. Do you want to look over your shoulder for the rest of your life cause you`re doing something illegal?"
This is a family left with holes in their hearts. A family missing the big hugs they always got from the young man they all helped raise. A family who just wants ‘Justice for Jeffrey.’ His aunt pleads to the public, "He was shot and left to die in a parking lot all by himself. Someone knows something."
If you can tell Federal Way Police anything about who killed Jeffrey McLaren, Crime Stoppers will pay you a $1,000 cash reward if it leads to their arrest.
You never have to give your name. It`s completely anonymous. Call the hot line at 1-800-222-TIPS.