NAMPA -- More than a year after a Nampa man was gunned down inside his own home, the victim's family is renewing their plea for any information about who ended his life.
Akrian Evans, 26, was shot and killed March 14, 2015 - his daughter's 9th birthday - at his house on Garrity Boulevard. The slaying remains unsolved.
For his father, Richard Evans of Caldwell, it hasn't gotten any easier.
"I know that someone is out there feeling guilty," he said.
Richard Evans is offering a $25,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest or conviction in the case. He hopes the money will prompt someone who knows his son's killer to come forward.
He expressed frustration that the case has gone so long without the arrest of a culprit or closure for the people who loved Akrian.
"The family needs some help, I believe, in getting something done," he said.
Nampa Police Sgt. Tim Riha said Wednesday the case is still open, but the trail has gone cold.
"There's no current leads in the case, and they've exhausted every lead that they had," he said.
Riha said detectives have spent "numerous, countless hours" on the case, even moving it to another unit for re-investigation after information seemingly dried up. He dismissed the idea that the department was not committed to solving the case, and said any new tips or new information about the shooting would be welcomed by detectives.
"We would love to have 100 percent of our crimes solved, especially homicides," he said.
The investigation has focused on a man believed to have been at the victim's home before he was shot.
According to Richard Evans, Akrian had attended his daughter's birthday party earlier in the day, then met at his home with a man interested in buying some wooden pallets.
That person is described as a white man about 35 years in age standing 5'6" or 5'7" and weighing about 170 pounds. Police say he had long dark hair tied back in a ponytail. The man was described by witnesses as having a tan complexion, unshaven face and full cheeks. He drove a small white pickup.
Detectives released a sketch of the suspect, but he has never been found.
Richard Evans said his son was not involved with drugs or gangs, and was generally even-tempered. He believes Akrian may have been targeted for money or pain pills, which his father said he had been legally prescribed by a doctor.
He described his son as a hard worker, so enterprising that as a teenager he convinced multiple neighbor kids to work for his lawn-cutting business within weeks of getting it off the ground.
A plumber by trade, Akrian had struggled after losing his driver's license and custody of his daughter, Richard Evans said, but had just gotten a new job lined up.
The victim's father said he was known for being generous and helping friends with projects.
"He did so much for everybody," Richard Evans said. "Everybody that knew him would walk around their place and see stuff that he's done, so we're all missing him."
Anyone with information about the shooting or any suspects is asked to call Nampa Police at 465-2257 or Crime Stoppers at 343-COPS.
