Father of 16-year-old killed in double shooting reacts to new arrest in case

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) – A 20-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the double shooting that killed 16-year-old Sam Kamara in June.

Police have charged Damari Walls-Medlock with aiding and abetting murder and assault for his role in the shooting that occurred on June 8 outside Thornton's home at the corner of Dixie Highway and Hill Street.

After waiting more than two months for answers, the news of the arrest was very moving for Kamara's father.

“When I got a call that the suspect had been arrested, it filled me with joy and tears in my eyes because justice had been done,” said his father, Daddy Gaye. “My son's killer has been brought to justice.”

Gaye describes his son as a brilliant student and says he planned to go to college.

“He was a nice, brilliant boy in school since he was in kindergarten,” Gaye said. “He was a very brilliant boy who always wanted to make his parents proud. He wanted to be a businessman. He promised that if he graduated from college, his parents would never work again.”

He said Kamara was at the gas station that day with his 15-year-old brother. In July, LMPD released photos of two men suspected of shooting the two teens.

According to a police report, surveillance video shows Walls-Medlock and another suspect approaching their car at the gas station. A fight broke out and the two teens were shot in the car.

Kamara was pronounced dead at the scene and his brother was shot in the stomach but recovered from his injuries.

According to police, Walls-Medlock admitted to reaching into the victims' vehicle and wrestling with one of the victims for his own gun. The second suspect has yet to be identified.

“I just pray that this person is arrested as well,” Gaye said. “I just pray that everyone who was involved in my son's crime [death] be brought to justice.”

Anyone with information about the shooting can call LMPD's anonymous tip line at 574-LMPD or use the online crime tip portal.

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