ATLANTA — Family and friends are remembering the life of 28-year-old Tyshon "Ty" Ross, a security guard who was shot and killed early Wednesday morning at the Encore Hookah Bar and Bistro off Luckie Street.
Police said Ty asked a man to leave the club, the two got into a dispute and shots were fired. Ty was taken to the hospital where he later died. According to the medical examiner's office, he was shot several times.
On Wednesday, police released surveillance photos of the man believed to be involved in the shooting. Crime Stoppers is offering a $2,000 reward for information leading up to an arrest.
Later that night, friends and family held a balloon release in honor of Ty. He had been living with his girlfriend Aaliyah Strong and her 4-year-old son, who he was like a stepfather to, according to loved ones.
Strong described Ty as a charismatic, genuine, humble person who loved everyone.
"He's so non-confrontational. Just calm," Strong said. "He just had a very calming spirit about him."
Ty started working at Encore Hookah Bar and Bistro a week before he was killed to make some extra money to pay bills, Strong said. Strong also worked with Ty at Encore Hookah Bar and Bistro as a server. The two met at the bar and became close, eventually dating and living together for the past year.
Strong said the night he was killed, the bar was very crowded.
"I just saw like a bunch of commotion at the front doors," she said. "I didn't know what was going on. So I tried to kind of look out the front door to see why it was so many people like rushing out. And then his friend came back inside and was just like frantic."
Strong recalls asking his friend where he was. He replied to her, "Ty got shot," she said.
"So I ran outside. And I saw him like laying on the ground and bleeding out," she said. "But I didn't know where he got shot. So I kind of was just kneeling by him trying to talk to him. And he wasn't responding."
Strong said when EMS and police arrived, they were able to get him stable.
"He was talking, he was alert. He knew he had been shot," Strong said.
Ty was taken to the hospital where he underwent surgery for several hours. Strong said the surgeon told her he had been shot three times.
"One bullet hit his lung, one bullet went through his spine and then the other one hit his chest cavity," she recalled. "And they just couldn't like stop the internal bleeding."
Strong said she went to say goodbye and then had to tell Ty's family and friends that he didn't make it out of surgery.
"It really just still feels unreal," she said. "I just was crying for like hours because I hadn't been asleep in like a day and a half. So when I finally did go to sleep and woke up, it really hit me."
Strong added on her Instagram, "There are no words to explain this pain, the pain I feel right now is unreal."
Being a mother, adds another layer. Strong said Ty and her 4-year-old son were extremely close.
"It's rare, as a single mother, especially in your 20s, that you find a man willing to fill those shoes to really be a full 24/7 father figure to your child. I haven't even brought my son home yet because I know he's going to ask 'where is Ty?' Because that's all it ever was here."
Ty passed away nine days after his 28th birthday, and while she processes her grief, Strong said she would rather Ty be remembered for who he was instead of how he died.
Family and friends have been wearing shirts that say "Ty's Keeper" since his death. Friends said Strong will always be "Ty's Keeper."
Ty was originally from Richmond, Virginia. He had two brothers, a sister, and leaves behind his mother and father. Ty's funeral will be held in his hometown. Details of his funeral have not yet been released.
Family, friends remember Ty Ross
