Slain daughter is third child lost

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - The family of a young woman who died in a shooting on Grand Rapids' West side is hoping the other victim will survive. They believe he could lead police to her killer.

"That guy's got the answers," said John Mroz, the father of victim Mallory Mathews. "That guy knows who these people are. I guarantee you he knows who they are. This isn't just some guy walking down the street."

Mathews, 21, was killed in the shooting at 2 a.m. Wednesday on National Avenue SW, just south of West Fulton.

Mathews' boyfriend -- 28-year-old Chad Lax -- was in serious condition. It's not clear if police have had a chance to speak to him.

Lax has a long criminal history, including drug convictions, and he survived a shooting about four months ago, also on the West side.

"He's been a target before," Mroz said. "I think because they didn't do it the first time, they're after him again, and if he makes it through this one, they'll be after him again, and I feel sorry for anyone else that's around him because they may be a target, too, just like our daughter."

Mathews and Lax recently had moved into an apartment on National Avenue, near where the shooting happened. Mathews had taken a second job as a dancer at Parkway Tropics to make ends meet.

Her family described her as a good mother to her 2-year-old son, Shae, who is staying with his father.

"He loved his mother so much," said Mathews' mother, Cheryl Mroz. "He did. He loves his mother so much that I just feel sorry for him growing up without a mother."

On Thursday, Mathews' family was making funeral arrangements. Services are set for 11 a.m. Monday, although the family still is working out details.

The Mathews haven't told Mallory's son that she's gone; only that she's at work.

"He's too young to understand and I'm not even sure if he'll be at the funeral," John Mroz said. "I don't think he'll understand seeing her in the casket and not having her wake up."

Mallory is the third child the Mroz family has lost in recent years: Their son was struck and killed by a truck two years ago and a daughter died after a long illness.