A server at a Chinatown sports activities bar was shot to dying early Thursday in Northwest D.C., police mentioned.

Larry Thomas, 27, labored his shift as at Yard House Wednesday night, then went down the road for drinks, his household mentioned.

He left Jackpot about 2 a.m., they mentioned. His mom, Aretha Yates, mentioned she checked in with him by cellphone about 2:40 a.m. and was reassured he was OK.

“First thing he would say is, ‘Mom, I’m OK. I’m safe. You always worry, and I love you,’” she mentioned.

Yates was at work Thursday when detectives advised her Thomas was killed.

Officers responded to experiences of photographs fired after 4:30 a.m. Thursday and located Thomas shot to dying in a parking space close to the Woodner Apartments within the 3600 block of 16^th Street NW, police mentioned.

“How did he get there, because he wasn’t even coming close to home,” Yates mentioned. “What took him up there? We know nothing about that area.” 

“Why do you have to pick up a gun and take somebody’s life, but you’re taking somebody’s life with no regards with anyone else’s feelings, concerns,” she mentioned. 

His household described Thomas as a free spirit.

“All he wanted to do was laugh, live life, be loved and be happy,” his mom mentioned. 

He was raised in Virginia but additionally frolicked working at a ranch in Utah earlier than settling again in Districts Heights together with his mom.

“He was kind of carefree, and I liked that about him, and the kids loved that about him,” mentioned his sister Victoria Yates. “My 3-year-old and him, my 2-year-old and him.”

“Everyone at Yard House is shocked and saddened by the senseless act that took Larry’s life,” General Manager Chad Roth mentioned in an announcement. “He was a valued team member who will be missed by all of us. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and everyone else who has been impacted by this unimaginable tragedy.”

“I’m never going to let this go,” Thomas’ mom mentioned. “I want justice for my son.”