Family of Tyshon Perry looking for answers, say teen fatally stabbed was trying to break up fight

WASHINGTON - One week after a 16-year-old was stabbed and killed in the District, his family is asking for the public's help.

Tyshon Perry died after a fight broke out at 2nd and Florida Streets near the NoMa Gallaudet Metro station in Northeast.

His family tells FOX 5 Tyshon was killed trying to break up the fight on his way home from school and y are hoping someone will come forward with information about his killer.

Shon Paul Perry, Tyshon's father, sat down with FOX 5 to talk about the memory of his son.

"Anytime I was holding him it was pretty joyous," he said of baby Tyshon.

The soft-spoken father beamed as he talked about the boy he was proud to see growing into a man.

"He was an awesome kid," added Perry. "He was well loved by many people. He was a young man with a gentle old soul."

And he had big dreams. Tyshon wanted to become the first black director of the FBI.

"I believe that he would have been able to accomplish that dream," Perry said. "There's no doubt in my mind."

Tyshon was an honor-roll student at KIPP DC's College Preparatory High School - which is less than a mile from where he was killed.

"It was devastating, unexpected of course," Perry said of learning about the stabbing. "You send your child to school and you expect your child to come home just as they left."

His dad says Tyshon was killed trying to break up a fight between two groups.

"Those guys turned on my son and murdered him."

Tyshon's mother is taking her son's death especially hard. She's haunted by the events of that day.

"She received a call, a frantic call from someone who had gotten his phone and said 'come, your son's here. He's dying,'" explained Perry.

Besides a loving mother and father, the 16-year-old leaves behind siblings older and younger.

His dad has a message for Tyshon's killer:

"You took an angel away," he said. "You took someone who didn't deserve to die. He was simply trying to help and diffuse the altercation."

Perry says that's what Tyshon was known for, bringing groups together. In that vein, he has a request for anyone watching.

"Just as he helped people, please, help Tyshon. Bring these criminals to justice."

Because the fight involved so many people, DC police don't have any solid leads on suspects. Anyone with information about the fight on May 1 or those involved is asked to call DC Police.

Tyshon's family is also planning a candlelight vigil at KIPP on Thursday at 4:30 p.m., which is around the time Tyshon was killed.

The family has also started a GoFundMe page to help with funeral and other costs.