Two years after tragic killing of Barry Washington Jr., family is still fighting for permanent memorial

(Update: Adding video, comments from memorial organizer and Bend Mayor)

One is located nearby to honor more recent downtown shooting victim Taylor Wyss

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- A permanent memorial sits in front of Duda’s Billiards Bar in downtown Bend, honoring Taylor Wyss, the victim in a tragic shooting death two months ago. But for Barry Washington Jr., who was shot and killed on a nearby downtown street corner over two years ago, flowers mark the spot, but it’s a different story.

After his September 2021 killing in front of The Capitol, Washington's mother says she is still fighting for a permanent memorial for her son.

"I just can't imagine losing my child in that kind of way, especially being so far away and then just constantly having to rely on that community to advocate, you know, 'cause you can't be there all the time." said Joslyn Stanfield, co-founder of Central Seeds. She has been helping Washington's mother, La'Wanda, for the past two years.

According to city officials, they don't regulate permanent memorials, as there’s no formal process. Instead, it is up to the business, building or property owner to decide what to allow.

Patagonia, whose business is adjacent to the memorial, has offered to pay for the memorial in honor of Washington.

"Barry's mom specifically wants a beautiful, like rainbow stained glass piece that represents him with a plaque that has some scriptures on it that are like close to her and, you know, other facts about him and just a little small bio about him -- things that people need to know about him, what happened." Stanfield said Tuesday. The memorial will be on the corner of Oregon Avenue and Wall Street.

In October of 2021, a temporary memorial was torn down. All that remains is the words 'Black Lives Matter' and some fake flowers.

A jury acquitted Ian Cranston. of murder but convicted him of manslaughter in Washington's death, and he was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Caleb Cegers, arrested with his brother in Tennessee in the days after Wyss's killing, is still being transported back to Deschutes County to face murder and other charges.

Emails obtained by NewsChannel 21 show Mayor Melanie Kebler supporting the permanent memorial, advising city officials to leave the temporary memorial alone.

Tuesday afternoon, Mayor Kebler said she has reached out again to Washington's mother to expedite the memorial process.

Riccardo Waites, executive director of the Central Oregon Black Leaders Assembly said of the two downtown killings, "No matter what your personal feelings are, it's just a tragic loss for both individuals and their families. So you should think about treating their deaths in the same way, and give them both the same respect that they deserve."