'I don't hate you:' Lizard Lick star Ronnie Shirley has message of faith for teens accused of son's murder

A Wake County family that played out several years of their lives on the reality TV show "Lizard Lick Towing" are now reaching out to their fans to try to stop violence.

It comes after 21-year-old Alex Shirley was shot to death in Johnston County a month ago, at the end of a memorial for another person who had died in a vehicle crash.

In an interview you'll see only on WRAL News, Ronnie Shirley Jr., Alex’s father, shares a message to the two teenagers accused of his son's murder.

"If I could say anything to them at all – it would be I don’t hate you, but I don’t know if I can forgive you," says Ronnie Shirley.

He leans on his faith to survive each day since his son's death. Family photos are propped up on his desk, right next to his well-worn Bible. Bible verses are tattooed on his arms.

"In situations like this, those verses come to life for me. Without faith we have nothing to stand on," he says.

Alex Shirley was killed not long after he posted a video on his social media showing a balloon release memorial for his friend.

"They were just sitting there talking, and next thing they know a yellow car is beside them. And a minute or two later, there was a hail of 20 plus shots... and that was it," says Ronnie Shirley.

Detectives discovered Alex Shirley's body in a car parked at a Sheetz.

The driver had stopped there after getting away from the gunfire.

Also inside the car was 20-year-old Sophie Hagy. She is now paralyzed from the waist down.

A GoFundMe page has raised more than $60,000 to help pay for her medical bills.

"Every day I get up. I know my son is gone, and I face that reality," says Shirley. "But, every day her family gets up and they have to face it again and again and again, and my heart goes out to them."

That reality is what's leading this former reality TV star to turn to his faithful following on social media.

"These people honestly, firmly in their heart care. They watched my son on TV. He was in so many episodes," recalls Ronnie Shirley. "He was always smiling, joking. He was always the cut up, man, always the cut up."

Ronnie Shirley hopes his son’s story stops another young life from being stolen from another family – for his death to serve a life purpose and save other people. Perhaps even inspire faith.

Ronnie Shirley says his social media posts have brought in tips about the shooting. Investigators said the information he passed on was key in helping identify the suspects.

In all, five people are charged in connection with the shooting.