A close friend of Stacey Adams’ family says his loved ones are relieved to see justice finally achieved after five long years of waiting for Steven Skinner’s arrest.
Kendelle Blois lived with the Adams family 23 years ago, and she remained a close friend through the years. She also maintains the Facebook page Justice for Stacey Adams.
A message on the Justice for Stacey Adams Facebook page says the pursuit for justice has finally been fulfilled with the arrest of Skinner.
Skinner, who faces a second-degree murder charge, was wanted on an international arrest warrant for the 2011 shooting death of Adams. He was apprehended by Venezuelan police on Sunday.
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Blois was at a loss for words to describe the emotions she and the Adams family have been experiencing since receiving news of Skinner’s arrest.
“It’s not a word. You can’t put it into words. It’s a wordless feeling,” she said in a phone interview with Global News.
“You wait for this day to come and then when it comes it’s surreal. We have always stuck together as a family and we are going to continue to do so. Supporting each other and supporting justice for Stacey.”
Despite her relief over Skinner’s arrest, Blois believes it’s still important for people to remember the young life that was lost. Adams was a son, a brother and soon-to-be father.
“You know Stacey was a wonderful young man. He had his whole life ahead of him and a family he was starting. He was charismatic and he was giving and he was helpful. He was determined. He never gave up either, and that was the type of person he was.”
Although Blois says the world feels a little safer now that Skinner is off the streets, she promises to continue to her quest to raise awareness over the need for justice in Halifax.
When asked if she had any advice to give to those living in Halifax who are dealing with the shooting death of a loved one, Blois focused on the Adam family’s steadfast determination to find justice for Stacey.
“Never give up hope,” she said.