When Natasha Neal embraces her late son’s child, familiar eyes look back at her. The 4-month-old baby never got to meet his father but carries his name and more.
“He smiled so much, just like that little boy,” Natasha said, pointing out the similarity between her son, Isaiah Neal, and grandson, Isaiah Neal Jr.
Isaiah was shot and killed outside of his family’s townhome in the 2400 block of Alabama Street on June 13, 2024.
He would’ve turned 18 on Wednesday, so his family and friends gathered in Holcom Park that evening for a celebration of life — a potluck with fried fish made by Natasha’s cousin, Benjamin Woods, a bouncy house and water games for the kids, and music for dancing.
“Even when he was upset, he smiled,” Natasha said of Isaiah. “I’m sad, but I try to be happy, because I know he would want that. He was a happy person.”
Isaiah Jr., who has the same blue-green eye color as his dad, gave out several smiles to different people during an interview for this article.
Natasha said in the almost year since Isaiah died, she’s missed hearing his voice.
“His voice had just started getting deep,” Natasha said. “On my breaks, that’s who I would talk to at night. When I got off of work, he would always be at that window or outside to make sure I got in. He was always very protective.”
She misses the things that used to annoy her — like his loud music in the mornings. He was an early bird with a routine that started with blasting rap artist NBA YoungBoy and other favorites.
Isaiah was a rapper himself but loved all genres of music, Natasha said. Before he died, he was stuck on the hit song, “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” by country artist Shaboozey, who ended up performing at a University of Kansas event the following September.
Isaiah’s little sister, Sa’hāla Cook, and his grandmother said they too miss him dearly. He had been Sa’hāla’s ride to and from school daily, so she transitioned to homeschooling this year because she couldn’t endure his absence at pickup time anymore.
Natasha described Isaiah as a “great big brother” and a natural giver. She recalled an early memory of buying him a pair of Jordans he really wanted. Then one day when she picked him up from school, his teacher said his shoes were missing. Turns out Isaiah had given his new J’s to a classmate who had holes in his shoes.
“He was a good-hearted person,” Natasha said. “I feel like, when you lose somebody, how you keep their legacy going is by doing greatness. I want everybody to graduate, you know, around his age. Just don’t take nothing for granted.”
Gun violence has claimed the lives of multiple Lawrence teenagers in the past two years, including Isaiah, Kamarjay Shaw and Brianna “Bri” Higgins, who were all friends.
Isaiah experienced much loss at 17, and Natasha said his room was “like a memorial” with tribute T-shirts and obituaries everywhere. She said she doesn’t pretend to understand exactly what kids go through, but that Isaiah’s peers have not felt safe in this community.
Suspected of shooting Isaiah is 19-year-old Cir Allen Keith Glover, of Lawrence, who’s charged with first-degree murder. His jury trial has been delayed twice and is currently set for July 7 to 11, with a pretrial hearing scheduled for Tuesday.
Trying to grieve has proven difficult in a simultaneous pursuit of justice, Natasha acknowledged, but she said she continues to seek accountability from law enforcement. Her mindset is “Forever Isaiah.”
If our local journalism matters to you, please help us keep doing this work.
Don’t miss a beat … Click here to sign up for our email newsletters
Click here to learn more about our newsletters first
Maya Hodison (she/her), equity reporter, can be reached at mhodison@lawrencekstimes.com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
Related coverage:
Molly Adams / Lawrence TimesLoved ones remember Lawrence teen killed last year on what would’ve been his 18th birthday
Andrea Albright/Lawrence Times
Andrea Albright/Lawrence Times
Latest Lawrence news:
Maya Hodison/Lawrence Times
