“Why did you do it? You could have just said no and just put the gun down,” said Trystyn Williams.
KEENE, Texas — During his first visit to the Fort Worth Water Gardens, 13-year-old Trystyn Williams faced his fear of heights, climbing the wall while holding a photo of his late father, Matthew Davis.
“He was the best man ever. Really cool, he really likes to talk a lot,” said Trystyn Williams, son of Matthew Davis.
That climb meant more than courage. A family video shows Davis climbing the same wall years earlier — a symbol of victory and strength that now inspires his son.
“I want to do it just like him and I did,” Trystyn said.
But on Mother’s Day 2023, Davis’s life was cut short. The Sonic employee was shot and killed after confronting a man urinating in the parking lot of the restaurant in Keene. Investigators say a 12-year-old boy with the man opened fire, hitting Davis four times.
“Why did you do it? You could have just said no and just put the gun down,” said Trystyn.
Prosecutors later revealed that the gun came from the boy’s aunt, Ashley Marmolejo Gomez, who was also in the parking lot that night. Davis’s mother, Leigh Miller, fought relentlessly for a murder charge.
“She didn’t pull the trigger, but she murdered him. Had she not given the child the gun, my son would still be here,” said Leigh Miller, mother of Matthew Davis.
On October 3, 2025, in Johnson County District Court, Gomez pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Trystyn and his grandmother were there for the sentencing.
“Very, very happy. Very happy,” said Trystyn.
“If I have anything to do with it, she’ll stay there the whole 25 years,” said Miller.
The same day, the family visited the Sonic restaurant where Davis was killed, standing before the memorial still outside. It was Trystyn’s first time seeing it in person. He lives with so many unanswered questions he has for his father.
“Like, what’s your favorite color or something? Can’t go play catch. Can you teach me how to ride a bike?” Trystyn said quietly, thinking of the moments he’ll never get to share with his dad.
For his family, climbing the Water Gardens wall is now a way to honor Davis — a symbol of strength, justice, and love that endures long after tragedy.
“My son did it for the first time for a victory for himself, for his life. I did it for a victory in a murder charge. And now we’re here today doing it for a victory for a conviction,” said Leigh Miller.