A year after teen’s death, mother asks for tips from public

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A Grand Rapids family is working to get justice for 16-year-old Cahari Walton, whose death is still under investigation a year later.

Walton was found fatally shot in the head near Blodgett Hospital in East Grand Rapids past midnight on Jan. 25, 2023.

He was an Ottawa Hills High School student who loved sports and gaming and he certainly loved his family, who told News 8 that Walton was an awesome big brother and a wonderful son.

Walton’s family is still grieving his loss more than a year after his deadly shooting and they need the community’s help in getting answers in his case.

“Every time somebody asks me about him, I just smile. I used to call him my sunshine when he was first born. He was my first-born child and my only son. And he just always had the biggest smile and the biggest personality. And he learned how to do everything so fast,” said Candance Walton, Cahari’s mother through laughter.

The adage “laughing to keep from crying” hits too close to home for Candance Walton. Cahari Walton’s mother is uplifting his memory in her quest for justice in his death. Police are still investigating his case and the circumstances surrounding his death.

Cahari Walton was found in the road near Blodgett Hospital. Police are working to connect a nearby shots fired call that night with his case.

“I just wanted to say thank you to whoever found my baby that day and called it in. I’ve been wanting to say that for a long time. I may never know who it is, but I just want to tell you thank you for finding him and calling it in so that we can know,” says Candance Walton.

Right now, Cahari Walton’s family is still fighting for justice in his case.

“I have been working with Grand Rapids detectives to keep trying to figure out what is going on and I have also been working with Silent Observer,” Candance Walton said.

Silent Observer shared a Facebook post asking for any details in Cahari Walton’s case to be reported anonymously.

“It will help give our family closure if you know any information and if they can just reach out with even the littlest of information that you might know to bring justice. You can remain anonymous and there is even an award you can get by doing that. The greatest reward would be some closure for our family,” said Candance Walton

Candance Walton said it’s important to keep pushing for answers and working to get justice for Cahari Walton and other unsolved cases.

“It’s important because if we don’t do it, nobody else will. They’ll forget about our babies. They’ll sweep the crimes under the rug. And they just meant so much, he meant so much to our family and to the community,” Candance Walton said.

As summer grows closer, Candance Walton doesn’t want gun violence to take another life.

“I don’t want anyone to feel this way, so it definitely helps when you find the people that committed the crime instead of letting it continue to evolve in the streets. So, by calling in a tip you might be able to save a life, so the drama doesn’t continue,” said Candance Walton.

News 8 reached out to East Grand Rapids police, who say the investigation into Cahari Walton’s case is ongoing.

If you have any tip at all, please report it anonymously to Silent Observer at 616.774.2345, Grand Rapids police at 616.456.3400, or East Grand Rapids police at 616.949.7010.

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