Lucas Shortreed remembered as 'happy outgoing kid' by friend
In the decade and a half since Lucas Shortreed was killed in a hit and run, Jesse Matthews says he never lost hope someone would be charged in his friends death.
“I didn’t think it would take this long actually,” Matthews said on Friday, two days after police made arrests in the 14-year-old case.
Matthews said he was close friends with Shortreed and that the pair often spent time at each other houses bonding over drinks and sharing their love of fishing.
They met through Matthews’ younger brother in 2003.
“We hit it off right at the get go, we had a lot in common,” Matthews said.
The memories they shared still weigh heavy on his mind.
“My brother would always bring him over to the house,” Matthews said. “He was a happy outgoing kid, full of laughter and he just had a lot of opportunities that he missed out on.”
On Oct. 10, 2008, Shortreed was walking home from a party around midnight when he was killed in a hit and run near the community of Alma.
Matthews said he was at that party too.
“I got dragged [there], Lucas was like ‘come out,’” he recalls.
Even 14 years later, Matthews said he’s haunted by that night and how his friend’s death could have been prevented.
“We had a ride for him. He got all mad and didn’t want the ride and thought he’d walk it off and walk home. Stuff would have changed if he’d took that ride,” he said.
Matthews said he often drives past the spot where Shortreed was killed and still feels overwhelmed.
“It’s heartbreaking. You try to block it off as much as you can.”
Dave Halliburton, 55, is charged with failing to stop at the scene of an accident involving bodily harm and obstructing justice.
Anastasia Halliburton, 53, is charged with accessory after the fact and obstructing justice.
None of the allegations have been proven in court. David and Anastasia Hallibuton were released on bail Thursday. Their next court hearing is scheduled for Oct. 25.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
They were from different countries and barely spoke each other's languages. More than 20 years later, they're still happily in love
He decided to spend Christmas somewhere that wouldn't involve snowstorm disasters. She was spending the holidays with family, travelling for the first time outside of her native country of Venezuela. 23 years later, they're still in love.
Man who set himself on fire outside Trump trial dies of injuries, police say
A man who doused himself in an accelerant and set himself on fire outside the courthouse where former U.S. President Donald Trump is on trial has died, police said.
12 students and teacher killed in Columbine school shooting remembered at 25th anniversary vigil
Thirteen victims of the Columbine High School shooting were remembered during a vigil Friday on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the shooting that was the worst the nation had seen at the time.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza city of Rafah kills at least 9 Palestinians, including 6 children
An Israeli airstrike on a house in Gaza's southernmost city killed at least nine people, six of them children, hospital authorities said Saturday, as Israel pursued its nearly seven-month offensive in the besieged Palestinian territory.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
Iraq investigates a blast at a base of Iran-allied militias that killed 1. U.S. denies involvement
Iraqi authorities said Saturday that they were investigating an explosion that struck a base belonging to the Popular Mobilization Forces, a coalition of Iran-allied militias, killing one person and injuring eight.
The House is on the brink of approving aid for Ukraine and Israel after months of struggle
The House is preparing in a rare Saturday session to approve US$95 billion in foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel and other U.S. allies.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.