Charlotte woman discusses son’s murder in wake of Tyre Nichols’ death

CHARLOTTE — A grieving Charlotte woman has been paying especially close attention to the Tyre Nichols murder case.

Sylvia Smith’s son, Samuel Stitt, was 23 years old when he was murdered on Aug. 8, 2019. Stitt had stopped by Somerset Apartments in northeast Charlotte to visit his 18-month-old son when he was shot and killed.

“Sam was determined to be the best father that he could possibly be,” the mother told Channel 9′s Glenn Counts. “Sam was well-liked by friends.”

Smith understands the grief that the Nichols family must be feeling on Wednesday, the day he was laid to rest.

“It’s been a challenge, you know?” Smith said. “I’m not the same as I was before then, mentally emotionally, physically, spiritually. It just takes a toll.”

Smith feels the loss of her son every day and as she watched Nichols’ funeral, she thought of her son, Sam.

“When we celebrated Sam’s life and his homegoing, that was just a blur,” Smith said. “I don’t remember. I’m grateful to have some memories carried over from that day. So, I can imagine that the Nichols family has experienced some of that same ... blur.”

Smith turned her grief into action. She participated in the Urban League vigil for Nichols over the weekend.

While that case and her son’s case are different, Smith hopes that people will remember that violent crime is evil.

“And while we look at it from that systemic mindset or perspective, that we can see how that still plays into the person who decided to take Sam’s life,” she said.

Stitt was a student at East Carolina University on an ROTC scholarship with plans to join the U.S. Army and after that, become a businessman. Now his mother won’t get to see those dreams fulfilled.

“I love Sam,” she said. “I miss Sam. He’s loved and missed by a lot of people.”

The Stitt case is unsolved. Police made an arrest, but prosecutors dropped the charges because of a lack of evidence.

In Memphis, the Nichols family and national leaders celebrated his life Wednesday and pushed for congressional action.

Nichols’ mother and sisters, along with Vice President Kamala Harris and the Rev. Al Sharpton, shared the same message.

They want Congress to approve the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which would create a national registry for officers disciplined for misconduct.

Five former Memphis police officers are charged with murder in Nichols’ death.

Two more were disciplined.

VIDEO: Urban League holds vigil in memory of Tyre Nichols

Urban League holds vigil in memory of Tyre Nichols

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