Funerals held Saturday for two Tacoma shooting victims

Tacoma’s day of mourning started with clapping.

At Allen AME Church, tears fell like the rain outside, but Rev. Anthony Steele urged the gathering of about 100 people to applaud in celebration of Steven Speakman, a 26-year-old man who was shot to death Nov. 3.

An hour later, and less than 2 miles away at Life Center, more people gathered to celebrate the life of Elijah Crawford, an 18-year-old recent high school graduate who was killed Nov. 2.

Speakman and Crawford, both described by friends and family as joyous people who affected others with their kindness, were two of three young men gunned down in Tacoma during the first week of November. The other was Philip Ryan Jr., a 19-year-old killed Nov. 7.

While the community is reeling from the tragedies, Steele made it clear that it is also strong.

“What you are going to find on this hill top is people that — regardless of race, creed, background — love each other,” Steele told the congregation.

A wreath of flowers and a large picture of Speakman wearing his Foss High graduation gown sat at the front of the sanctuary, and one by one friends and family stepped to a lectern to talk about the man.

They told stories about how he loved to walk around Hilltop and the tribal communities of Puyallup and Port Gamble S’Klallam greeting people with a friendly “What’s up?” and asking what he might do to help them.

One speaker described Speakman as a gentleman and a gentle man. A friend said he removed his black tie before the service and replaced it with a blue tie to reflect Speakman’s cheerful personality.

People who’d never met Speakman came to show their support for the community and Speakman’s parents.

Kim Nystrom, Speakman’s mom, tearfully told of how her son used to like taking things apart and putting them back together. “I love you son,” she said. “I’m going to miss you.”

Speakman was found shot to death blocks from the church and his home. Investigators have not found a motive or made an arrest in the case.

His death came hours after Crawford was killed when at least one person opened fire on him and two friends as they sat in a parked car waiting to meet acquaintances in the 1800 block of East 44th Street.

Crawford, who played football and was an accomplished wrestler at Lincoln High School, graduated in June. He mentored junior high wrestlers and hoped to become a combat photographer and Olympic wrestler.

“High school didn’t start off easy, but by senior year he was a hard-working student who was beloved by students and teachers alike,” read his obituary. “He always wore an infectious smile and was always known to stick up for the underdog.”

Crawford’s family requested The News Tribune not attend his funeral.

As Speakman’s funeral ended and the congregation prepared to exit into the rain on a gloomy fall day, Steele left them with a final word of encouragement. Words that seemed directed at the entire community.

“After the storm and the wind, the sun will shine,” Steele said. “Your son has already shined.”

This story was originally published November 14, 2015 at 6:02 AM with the headline "Funerals held Saturday for two Tacoma shooting victims."