The family of a man who was shot and killed in his car last week said the father of four had “a special spark,” and will be missed.

Tyray Ikener, 32, died in the shooting Jan. 20 at a King Soopers parking lot off Stetson Hills Boulevard in northeast Colorado Springs. The El Paso County Coroner’s Office confirmed the identity of Ikener in a news release Tuesday from Colorado Springs police.

According to police, Ikener was found dead inside a vehicle near the gas pumps adjacent to the store.

His ex-wife, Katelyn Ikener, said they had two daughters together, Ajahalaya, 14, and Remy, 10. He then went on to have two more daughters with his new wife: Kayanna, 1, and Kierra, 6 months old.

Ikener’s sister, Shanette, is now helping to care for the youngest two children.

Katelyn Ikener told The Gazette she met Tyray Ikener around her 15th birthday, where his smile and goofy personality won her over instantly.

“I just always wanted to be with him and marry him, have kids with him at a young age, and we ended up doing that,” Katelyn said Tuesday. “Our first daughter was just the love of his life.”

Despite the divorce and Ikener’s new marriage following the birth of their second child, Katelyn Ikener said he called his daughters as much as he could. His former wife said the pair remained close friends, and Ikener would constantly check in on her every time he called for his daughters.

“He was just such a beautiful soul. He was not a fighter or yeller. He always had a smile on his face. He always was joking around, no matter what,” Katelyn Ikener said. “I loved him to death, and I don’t think I ever stopped loving him.”

Ikener’s sister, Shalisa Trujillo, 33, grew up alongside him. She said they always found ways to annoy each other but also protect each other.

“I had a connection with him that I didn’t have with my other siblings,” Trujillo said. “I was my brother’s keeper. He was hilarious and I was extremely close to him.”

Ikener’s mother, Sheryl Ikener, said he was very passionate about writing rap music, coloring, photography, cutting hair and helping those around him feel better about themselves.

“My son had a special spark,” Sheryl Ikener said. “He was a beautiful soul caught up in this world of jealousy and hatred. He was funny, he made everybody laugh, and he was a whisperer. He could whisper to a dog or any human being to calm them down and get them to see a silver lining. He was always the one to help everyone. He wanted to make sure everyone else was OK.”

Sheryl Ikener said Tyray would come to her to help counsel his friends. She said he was a devoted and caring father of his four girls.

“He called me his best friend,” Sheryl Ikener said. “He was a really good daddy and a snazzy dresser. He would comb their hair and always dress them nice.”

According to court records, Tyray Ikener had a troubled past.

He was charged with weapon possession in 2021, motor vehicle theft in 2017, giving false information to a pawn broker in 2016 and a misdemeanor drug charge in 2011. Most recently, he pleaded guilty to second-degree motor vehicle theft Jan. 8 and was sentenced to 12 months probation.

Regardless, his family said he was rising above his past with a goal to be a good father and friend.

“He dedicated his life to Christ three days before his death,” Sheryl Ikener said. “He was on a good path. There isn’t justice yet, it’s senseless. They snuffed out his beautiful bright light and justice has to be served.”

Katelyn Ikener also said Ikener had “tried for years and years to always better his life.”

“I know he tried so hard, he just wanted to do better for himself, do better for his kids,” Katelyn Ikener said. “He overcame so many things, so many times, and I just wish that it was enough to get him away from everything so this didn’t happen.”

The parking lot where Ikener died was right next to his former wife’s current residence, a home the pair shared before their divorce. In the days since his death, Katelyn Ikener said she can’t drive the route she used to take several times in a day because it reminds her daughters and herself of the tragedy.

No arrests or suspect identification have been announced by police.

Anyone with information connected to the shooting is asked to call 719-444-4000, or 719-634-7867 to remain anonymous.

This is the third homicide investigation in Colorado Springs in 2025; none had been reported at the same time last year.

Mackenzie Bodell contributed to this report. 

The family of a man who was shot and killed in his car last week said the father of four had “a special spark,” and will be missed.

Tyray Ikener, 32, died in the shooting Jan. 20 at a King Soopers parking lot off Stetson Hills Boulevard in northeast Colorado Springs. The El Paso County Coroner’s Office confirmed the identity of Ikener in a news release Tuesday from police.

According to police, Ikener was found dead inside a vehicle near the gas pumps adjacent to the store.

His ex-wife, Katelyn Ikener, said they had two daughters together, Ajahalaya, 14, and Remy, 10. He then went on to have two more daughters with his new wife: Kayanna, 1, and Kierra, 6 months old.

Ikener’s sister, Shanette, is now helping to care for the youngest two children.

Katelyn Ikener told The Gazette she met Tyray Ikener around her 15th birthday, where his smile and goofy personality won her over instantly.

“I just always wanted to be with him and marry him, have kids with him at a young age, and we ended up doing that,” Katelyn said Tuesday. “Our first daughter was just the love of his life.”

Despite the divorce and Ikener’s remarriage after the birth of their second child, Katelyn Ikener said he called his daughters as much as he could. His former wife said the pair remained close friends, and Ikener would constantly check in on her every time he called for his daughters.

“He was just such a beautiful soul. He was not a fighter or yeller. He always had a smile on his face. He always was joking around, no matter what,” Katelyn Ikener said. “I loved him to death, and I don’t think I ever stopped loving him.”

Ikener’s sister, Shalisa Trujillo, 33, grew up alongside him. She said they always found ways to annoy each other but also protect each other.

“I had a connection with him that I didn’t have with my other siblings.”I was my brother’s keeper. He was hilarious and I was extremely close to him.”

Ikener’s mother, Sheryl Ikener, said he was passionate about writing rap music, coloring, photography, cutting hair, and helping those around him feel better about themselves.

“My son had a special spark. He was a beautiful soul caught up in this world of jealousy and hatred. He was funny, he made everybody laugh, and he was a whisperer. He could whisper to a dog or any human being to calm them down and get them to see a silver lining. He was always the one to help everyone. He wanted to make sure everyone else was OK.”

Sheryl Ikener said Tyray would come to her to help counsel his friends. She said he was a devoted and caring father of his four girls.

“He called me his best friend,” Sheryl Ikener said. “He was a really good daddy and a snazzy dresser. He would comb their hair and always dress them nice.”

According to court records, Tyray Ikener had a troubled record.

He was charged with weapon possession in 2021, motor vehicle theft in 2017, giving false information to a pawn broker in 2016 and a misdemeanor drug charge in 2011. Most recently, he pleaded guilty to second-degree motor vehicle theft Jan. 8 and was sentenced to 12 months probation.

Regardless, his family said he was rising above his past with a goal to be a good father and friend.

“He dedicated his life to Christ three days before his death,” Sheryl Ikener said. “He was on a good path. There isn’t justice yet, it’s senseless. They snuffed out his beautiful bright light and justice has to be served.”

Katelyn Ikener also said Ikener had “tried for years and years to always better his life. I know he tried so hard, he just wanted to do better for himself, do better for his kids. He overcame so many things, so many times, and I just wish that it was enough to get him away from everything so this didn’t happen.”

The parking lot where Ikener died was next to his former wife’s current residence, a home the pair had shared.

No arrests or suspect identification have been announced.

Anyone with information connected to the shooting is asked to call 719-444-4000, or 719-634-7867 to remain anonymous.

This is the third homicide investigation in Colorado Springs in 2025; none had been reported at the same time last year.

Mackenzie Bodell contributed to this report.