Family mourns drowning victim
A Salisbury family is mourning, after a loved one drowned in the Wicomico river Sunday night.
Police revealed the identity of the victim as 24-year-old Lamar Sheppard. His family sat down to talk to 47 ABC on Monday.
“We are hurting right now, because like you said…we love Lamar. We love him.” Says his grandmother, Geraline Wright-Foster.
It’s unclear exactly what Sheppard was doing near the water on Riverside Drive. Shortly after 9:30 p.m., Salisbury Police were called to the scene after a good samaritan pulled him from the water and tried to save his life.
His family says they’re puzzled as to why Sheppard was in the water in the first place. According to his grandmother Geraline Wright-Foster, Sheppard could not swim. On top of that, they say he has long been asthmatic which made it difficult for some physical activities.
Wright-Foster tells 47 ABC, she believes this was a drug-related incident. She says her grandson left home around 9 p.m. to pick up marijuana from someone.
“This is my suspicion, someone put him in that water. I don’t know why or what for, but someone put him in that water.” Says Wright-Foster.
47 ABC brought her speculations to Salisbury Police. Investigators would not comment on the drug allegations, but we’ve learned preliminary results from the The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner indicate there was no obvious trauma to Sheppard.
Early Monday, police said they had not ruled out foul play.
Evan Hockel lives on Riverside Drive and says he was shocked when he saw the police activity Sunday night.
“Yeah, it’s a little scary knowing something like that happened 100 yards away from where you live.” Says Hockel.
Until they get the answers of what truly happened Sunday night, Sheppard’s family says they’re coping the best they can.
“If I could have been or if I knew he was in this danger, this trouble…I would have done anything and everything I could to get him out of it.” Explains Wright-Foster.
47 ABC reached out to Salisbury Police in light of this new information. They say they have reviewed video surveillance from a nearby location, which captured significant portions of this incident. That video is not yet available to media.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Salisbury Police Department at (410) 548-3165 or Crime Solvers at (410) 548-1776.
