Valerie Lackey sleeps in her son's bed, often clutching one of his worn shirts that she won't wash, afraid that it will lose his scent.

"This is where I have been ever since he passed away," she said.

Her son, Tyquan Lackey, was fatally shot March 11 outside a Sweet 16 party on the city's Near East Side. A fight broke out during the party and three people were shot, including 18-year-old Tyquan.

Although more than 100 people attended the gathering, no one has come forward with any information that could help police find his killer.

That's not unusual. Witnesses and even victims often don't trust police, or they fear for their own safety.

"My son's death was senseless," said Lackey, who lives on the South Side. "I hope somebody breaks that trend and speaks out."

Columbus police homicide Detective Lowell Titus, who is assigned to the case, said police are still waiting on evidence.

"It would definitely help for people to come forward," he said.

It's a problem detectives routinely face. And if a victim recovers and declines to press charges, detectives don't have much of a case.

"If I'm able to determine who shot you, want to press charges? 'No, I'm good.' OK, man. Have a nice day," said Detective Ron Lemmon of the Columbus police assault squad. "What should I do with that?"

Lemmon said he has worked felonious assault cases that went to trial, only to have them fall apart at the last minute because a victim or witness was intimidated.

Experts say the issue goes deeper, touching on police relationships with the community and neighborhood conditions dating back generations.

Lance Williams, a professor at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago who specializes in inner-city issues, said it's not a code of silence that leaves people mum on issues, but rather a code of fear.

In neighborhoods where crime and poverty are high, residents already are in a bad situation, he said. Most shootings erupt over beefs between people, and they can happen anywhere.

"Feeling like you're already isolated and defenseless ... whether it be by those who perpetrate crimes or those who are charged with protecting and defending you," he said. "Folks feel caught in between.

"If someone has already demonstrated the ability to do violence, they want to stay clear."

One complaint is that police go into some neighborhoods only after a crime is committed. Williams said residents often feel that nothing will change if they come forward.

"The reality is, it's not going to stop whether they come forward or not. It's the conditions that people are living in that need to change," he said.

In a statement, Columbus police Chief Kim Jacobs said witnesses can come forward anonymously.

“We need people to work with law enforcement in any investigation," she said. "Our officers strive to get to the bottom of every case, regardless of cooperation. We want to keep our communities as safe as possible.”

Just before 3:30 a.m. on April 16, nine people were shot at an after-hours club on Cleveland Avenue in South Linden. Initially, no one spoke to police.

One victim has since cooperated, said Lemmon, who is working on the case. Two more declined to talk. He's still following up with the six other victims.

Some witnesses have called with names of suspects, but they don't want to be involved beyond that, he said. He argues that more people should come forward with information because arresting shooters would make neighborhoods safer.

Meanwhile, Lackey continues to mourn her son. Dried flowers from his funeral service sit on the mantel near a high school diploma that Tyquan was awarded posthumously at his funeral.

"My son graduated from his casket," she said.

A small capsule of his ashes hangs around her neck. She also wears the two pieces of jewelry police returned to her that were found on his body.

She said many of the people who saw her son's shooter live in the neighborhood.

"Most of them are young, and they think talking is like a bad thing to do," Lackey said. "You shouldn't be afraid to speak out to do what's right ... (and) they shouldn't have to keep burying their friends."

Anyone with information can call Columbus police at 614-645-4624.

bburger@dispatch.com

@bybethburger