Post last updated at 3:25 p.m. Friday, June 14:
Family members and friends are mourning after a 17-year-old was killed in an overnight shooting near 24th and Alabama streets in Lawrence.
The victim was Isaiah Neal, of Lawrence.
For Isaiah’s mother, Natasha Neal, the reality of her son’s death had not quite set in Thursday afternoon. She had not yet gone to sleep, and she was afraid that once she did, she was going to wake up and realize that this wasn’t a dream.
Officers were dispatched to the 2400 block of Alabama Street at 1:18 a.m. Thursday, according to a news release from the Lawrence Police Department. Officers found Isaiah with multiple gunshot wounds and began life-saving measures until Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical first responders arrived at the scene, according to the release.
“At that point, additional officers began securing the scene as a number of witnesses and family members began to gather,” according to the release. “Investigations personnel were called to the scene. LDCFM paramedics transported the victim to the hospital where he later died.”
Natasha said that initially, first responders planned to fly Isaiah to the University of Kansas hospital in Kansas City. Natasha said she had shouted to Isaiah, “Fight, baby, fight,” as he was getting loaded into an ambulance.
She was already getting close to KU when she found out there had been a change of plans, and Isaiah had been taken to Lawrence Memorial Hospital instead.
By the time she got to Isaiah’s room, he was dead, she said.
Natasha said she hoped policies could be changed to ensure that family members are directed to the right hospitals when their loved ones are dying. She was also upset that police had released her minor son’s name without her permission, she said.
Numerous family members and friends had gathered at Natasha’s residence Thursday to offer their support and condolences — except that “Isaiah didn’t have friends — he had brothers,” one said.
Vanessa Mahkuk, whose 15-year-old daughter Brianna Higgins was shot and killed in Olathe in January, was present Thursday. Isaiah and Brianna were close, and Mahkuk said Isaiah checked on her and would go to the cemetery with her every day following her daughter’s death.
Buried next to Brianna is Kamarjay Shaw, who was shot and killed in March 2023. Kamarjay, 14, was also a friend of Isaiah’s.
Isaiah had recently set up a display in their home of photos of loved ones, many of whom have died.
Isaiah had just turned 17 on May 14, his mother said. He is survived by his mother; his aunt, Lisa; sisters Jaionna, 23, Jayda, 19, and Bear, 12; honorary brother Lil Ron, 11; and numerous other loved ones.
Mitzi Jones, Southern Cheyenne and Kiowa, smudged the home with cedar to comfort and protect Isaiah on his journey, she said.
Family members shared some favorite photos of Isaiah and his siblings over the course of his life.
Police had not yet arrested a suspect Thursday but did make an arrest Friday.
Police posted to Facebook Thursday that they “have uncovered a lot more now about what led up to” Isaiah’s death, and they were seeking Cir Allen Keith Glover, 18, because “We believe this individual has valuable information about the case,” according to the post.
LPD received a tip and arrested Glover Friday morning in Miami County on suspicion of second-degree murder.
Glover was being held in custody of the Douglas County jail on a $1 million bond as of Friday afternoon. The Douglas County district attorney’s office has filed a case against Glover, but the case documents were not yet publicly available Friday.
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Mackenzie Clark (she/her), reporter/founder of The Lawrence Times, can be reached at mclark (at) lawrencekstimes (dot) com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
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August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
