Steven Speakman murder: 'Just a friendly kid': Tacoma mom makes tearful plea after disabled son is killed

KILLER WANTED IN TACOMA --   A mother is heartbroken and left with many questions after her mentally disabled son was shot and killed in Tacoma’s Hilltop neighborhood early Tuesday morning. Kim Nystrom said her son, 26-year-old Steven Speakman, was intellectually disabled and had the mind of a 10-year-old. “I just want to know who would do this to Steven,” said Nystrom. “I just want to find out who did this to him.” Several people are now being questioned in connection to the shooting, according to Tacoma Police. Officers found the victim on the sidewalk near MLK Way and South 11th Street.

Nystrom said she was with her son Monday night. Both live in the apartments near the storefront where he was found. She remembered exactly what she said to Steven, not knowing it would be the last time she would see him. “I went home and told him I`d see him in the morning and he says, 'All right, Mom, love you, see you tomorrow,'” said Nystrom. In this part of the neighborhood, many of the business owners and employees knew Steven. He would often walk around to the nearby stores and restaurants. “Everybody around, everybody you talk to, they know Steven, he`s just a friendly kid,” said Nystrom. Tacoma Police also want answers. "He may have been there because you can get Wi-Fi at that location," says Tacoma Police Ofc. Loretta Cool. "He couldn't get it at his apartment, but we don`t know that for sure." Detectives say Steven was well-known by the business people in the area and everybody liked him. Ofc. Cool adds, "Normally with a shooting, a homicide, there`s some sort of exchange or something that leads up to it. We`re not hearing from anyone that there was any significant argument or fight with anyone in his life. We`re looking for anyone who maybe was in the area, who saw something, didn`t think it was important at the time, but now realizes that that`s what they were seeing. If they could please call us with any information." If you have any information that can help Tacoma Police detectives put the pieces together of what happened that morning and who Steven's killer is, call an anonymous tip into: CRIME STOPPERS: 1-800-222-TIPS You must call the Crime Stoppers hotline with your tip to be eligible to receive a cash reward for information leading to a fugitive’s arrest. CLICK HERE for information on how to TEXT A TIP to Crime Stoppers