LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) – The family of Antoine Ellis is looking for answers two years after he was killed. The person responsible still has not been brought to justice in a case that is now considered cold.
It has become all too familiar for hundreds of Kentuckiana families who mourn victims of homicide, while waiting for a killer to be arrested. The family and friends of Antoine Ellis light candles to remember him in a vigil on Saturday night.
"For him to die the way he did and left in this alley like garbage, it's terrible," said Kathryn Gaines, Antoine's grandmother.
Silently, Antoine's mother and grandmother return to the alley between 38th and 39th Streets near Duncan Street, the place where he was found shot and killed.
Now Antoine's family is tiring of a different kind of silence.
"I just wish they'd call the police and give them anything they know, no matter how little, how big just call and let them know," said Tammy Porter, Antoine's mother. "Who knows? Maybe we can find out who did this and justice can be served."
On the same day two years ago, Antoine's childhood friend Deshon Johnson was also found shot to death outside his daughter's home.
Police have no suspects in either case, and Saturday, the two year anniversary, means Louisville Metro Police's cold case investigators will take over. Meanwhile, Antoine's mother will wait and hope, something she says becomes harder every day.
"Sometimes it's like, 'Why he hasn't called? Why he hasn't been over here?' But he can't," adds Porter.
A small army of mourners watched Antoine's grandmother pour oil on the ground and his oldest daughter Teyanna place a stuffed animal where he was found. The faces of the mourners are framed by the light of all those candles. It is a light which they hope will illuminate this still unsolved mystery.
"Every little piece helps, somebody might be holding the single key to convict somebody of this crime," Porter said.
The family says they will hold a vigil for Antoine every year until the killer is caught. Cold case investigators have said they search for new leads but must depend on someone to come forward with information to have the best chance to solve the case.
If you have any information, you can call Louisville Metro Police's anonymous tip line at 574-LMPD.
