DE DE - Nelson Drakeford, 19, Wilmington, 2 August 2008

Tiffany Drakeford lost her brother, Nelson, just blocks from their home in Edgemoor. In a few weeks on Aug. 2, she will mark eight years since he was shot to death. Police never revealed any suspect information.

Tiffany isn't necessarily looking for answers anymore, she said, because justice won't bring her smiling brother back to them. Her sisters and mother have come to accept that her brother, a football player and recent high school graduate, won't ever come home. But they grieve for other families that may one day have to experience that same pain – even the mother of the person who shot Nelson.

"People need to know it's OK to reach out and talk to police," she said. "It's OK to speak up. ... This is real life. Things happen. Even if you see something and don't think it's a big deal, it's important."

The website, she hopes, will make people more comfortable with speaking to police. Detectives said the web page will be updated with more cases as investigations continue.

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Her son was hanging out with two friends on the street near his home the night of Aug. 2, 2008, when a shooter approached and fired, striking Nelson Jr. several times.

He died shortly after being taken to Christiana Hospital.

His parents believe he was not the intended victim because one of the friends he was with had a previous argument with the shooter. But with little cooperation from witnesses or people in the neighborhood, police have been unable to find Nelson's killer.

"It really hasn't changed," said Cpl. Trinidad Navarro, spokesman for the New Castle County Police Department. "We have a pretty good idea about who is responsible for the homicide. We need help from the community to shore up loose ends."

The Drakefords, including Nelson's three older sisters, still hope his killer will be found.

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