A Phoenix mother says she was heartbroken when she realized it was her son who was shot and killed last week in the desert near Lake Pleasant.
First responders were seen performing CPR in the middle of the desert, trying to save 17-year-old Tyreque China Slaughter.
“The person that they were working on was my kid,” Samantha Dilyou said. “I never even got to see him.”
The victim died just hours after he was airlifted to the hospital.
Dilyou said she is trying to hold on to the quiet moments she had with him the night before his death.
“He came in there and laid with me and watched TV,” Dilyou said. “I didn't know that was going to be the last time I would see my son.”
Peoria police said four teens went out with two shotguns to target shoot, but Joseph Contreras, 17, had a plan to confront his friend.
Authorities said Contreras turned the gun on Slaughter, accused him of stealing from him, opened fire and took off with the other suspect, Wesley Considine.
“He was like part of the family,” Dilyou said about Contreras.
Dilyou said that her son and Contreras knew each other since middle school and that they were close friends who had sleepovers and grew up together.
“It makes it really hard to know that this person used to sit at the table and eat with my family,” Dilyou said.
The family is now holding onto their faith and planning their son’s funeral.
“I love him so much,” Dilyou said. “Momma's going to be OK.”
The family has a GoFundMe account to help with funeral costs. Anyone interested in donating, can click here.
