SPOKANE, Wash. – The community is mourning the loss of Derick Shafer, who was shot and killed just outside Sacred Heart Medical Center on Sunday.
His sister, Ashley Smith, shared her last conversation with him, saying, “I’m grateful. That was our last conversation.”
Smith described her brother as loving and full of life. Shafer leaves behind a 16-year-old son.
“You know, he’s just a kid and he doesn’t he doesn’t ever get to see his dad again. That’s stinking horrible,” said Smith.
Although she was the younger sibling, Smith often found herself advising Shafer.
“I feel like I was always yelling at him for something. You know? Go do this. Go do that. You know, being a bossy sister, you know,” she said.
Shafer died near where he was born in Spokane.
“I’m never going to have the same memories of, anything related to Spokane,” Smith said.
In my investigation of Shafer’s Facebook, I found a post from earlier this month reaching out to an ex-girlfriend. Smith confirmed she hasn’t connected with the woman since his death.
“I’ll say that I haven’t talked to her. This was a kind of relationship that I was encouraging Derek to get away from,” said Smith.
When asked if she knew of anyone who would want to harm him, Smith expressed disbelief.
“No, no, he didn’t. He was so lovable. I don’t know how you could not like Derek. He really. He would make you laugh. And he had such a personality. It seriously is hilarious and so likable,” she said.
Smith also shared her perspective on the situation.
“The one true enemy, which, you know biblically is who I believe orchestrated it,” she said.
Amidst her grief, Smith finds solace in faith.
“He had like a childlike faith. He loved the Lord so much,” she said.
Smith emphasized that faith is sustaining the family during this difficult time.
“I serve a very big God, and everything that happened in darkness that night will will come to light,” she said.
