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Tristan Smith was shot and killed two years ago when then-18-year-old Larry McBee attempted to rob the Rural King in Halls, authorities said.
HALLS, Tenn. — Sandy Smith gathered with about two dozen people on Sunday to share memories of her son, Tristan Smith.
Smith was shot and killed two years ago when then-18-year-old Larry McBee attempted to rob the Rural King in Halls. The crowd who joined Sandy wrote messages to Tristan on balloons and lit candles to remember his spirit while standing behind the same store where he worked.
“My grief? My grief will never end as long as I’m breathing. Some days are harder than others. I can laugh,” Sandy said.
A Knox County jury recently convicted the now 20-year-old Mcbee of shooting and killing Tristan in December two years ago when Tristan confronted him after being told by witnesses that he was seen shoplifting.
According to police, McBee ran away with Tristan trailing behind him. McBee then shot him outside of the store. Tristan was 23-years-old.
“The trial itself was good. The trial was swift, and the DA did a phenomenal job, I will say that, and he got the max he could’ve gotten for this, so yes, in that sense, justice was served,” Sandy said.
Sandy also said Tristan embraced life, while others said he was kind and always made people feel welcome.
“I think it’s important to share his light, and then that light is shared with somebody else, and somebody else and it just keeps going,” Sandy said.
Stories told at the memorial involving Tristan left some with smiles even through the grief.
His mother said she isn’t sure what Tristan would say about the memorial, but she’s confident he would’ve been front and center at anyone else’s.