How far would you go to have 15 minutes of fame?
As Blavity previously reported, a 14-year-old named Tyre Sampson tragically lost his life at an amusement park last week. While visiting Florida‘s ICON Park with friends, Sampson rode the Orlando Free Fall—a 430-foot drop tower that was advertised as “the world’s tallest free-standing drop tower.”
However, once the 75-mph ride came to a swift halt during its descent, Sampson slipped out from his shoulder harness and crashed into the ground. Shortly after the disturbing event, which was filmed and circulated on Twitter, Sampson was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
‼️A 14-year-old boy has died after falling from the Free Fall ride at ICON Park. Happened Thursday. #ORLANDO pic.twitter.com/xdGTH2kFl7
— JJ (@Joshuajered) March 25, 2022
Once news outlets began widely covering the story, a woman named Shay Johnson came forward and shared additional information on the matter. Johnson claimed to be Sampson’s cousin and gave a tearful interview in which she recounted her last moments with him.
During her account, Johnson said she gave Sampson money for his amusement park trip and remained in contact with him. She went on to say park officials turned Sampson, who weighed over 300 lbs., away from numerous rides. However, she said that ICON Park employees eventually allowed him onto the Orlando Free Fall.
Following tonights vigil for #TyreSampson, his cousin Shay described her last conversation she had with the 14 year old before his fall from the ICON Park ride. @MyNews13 pic.twitter.com/hTpyR7sv5h
— Spectrum News Asher Wildman (@AsherWildman13) March 29, 2022
Once Johnson went viral, people began buzzing about how she wasn’t actually related to Sampson. One family friend named Mandy Duppins blasted the matter via Facebook yesterday.
“It is CONFIRMED by the immediate family that [Shay Johnson] is NOT Family for neither side,” she wrote. It’s also worth adding that Duppins alleged that “Shay Johnson” is an alias, writing that the woman’s real name is Lewishena Browning.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) eventually corroborated this post.
“Our detectives have looked into this and spoken with Tyre Sampson’s mother. His mother told them she does not know who Shay Johnson is,” OCSO spokesperson Michelle Guido said.
“At this point, they have no evidence of a crime,” she added, as there’s no record of Johnson/Browning lying to collect funds.
Robert Hilliard, an attorney representing the Sampson family, went on to say that they find the overall matter “distressing.” Similar to the OSCO spokesperson, Hilliard noted that he’s unsure if the family can press charges.
“Not sure being a pathetic publicity hound who spins tales is a crime,” he said of the woman.
Lewishena Browning gave interviews, spoke at press conferences and marched with signs calling for justice for Tyre, who fell to his death from the Orlando Free Fall ride last week. Now the teen’s family is warning that she’s not who she claimed to be. https://t.co/kZWbVXxtZg pic.twitter.com/SuIPtyWb6a
— Jeff Weiner (@JeffWeinerOS) April 1, 2022
While Sampson’s family may not be able to press charges, the court of public opinion is definitely dragging Johnson/Browning.
