Dad Hopes Balloon Release Will Lead to Answers in Son’s Murder
Over 1,000 balloons were let go on what would have been Laron Watkins' birthday.
— -- One New York family is hoping a special balloon release will lead to answers in their son's murder.
"What I hope is that when the balloons start to deflate they fall down, like that one balloon that hit me on the shoulder and gave me the idea," father Larry Watkins told ABC News today. "I'm hoping they use the information and it leads to the arrest and the conviction of the person or persons who did it."
Oct. 11 would have been Laron Watkins' 22nd birthday. Instead of celebrating, his loved ones released more than 1,000 balloons with tags featuring his photo, information about his murder and an anonymous tip-line number.
The balloons were let go in Sperry Park in Buffalo, where the then 21-year-old was shot and killed while walking home from work on Aug. 4.
"He was a quiet, good kid," Watkins said of his son. "Laron was the one that made sure he'd get his fair share of attention from his mother or father. He was big on family. If he had $10 and he felt that there was something his brother, sister, niece or nephew needed or wanted, he'd give them the $10. That $10 could be his bus ride to work. He'd walk to work just to see them happy."
According to the Buffalo Police Department's list of 2016 homicides, Laron Watkins was shot on Sherman Street in Buffalo. His case is still under investigation.
The Buffalo Police have not responded to ABC News' request for comment.
Watkins hopes someone who knows something will find a balloon, and give detectives information that will help solve his son's murder.
Watkins said he's currently working on another plan to mail out Laron's tip card to every household in town in hopes that it’ll reach a potential witness.
