Friend says shooting victim Rachel Likes 'wanted a better life'

GALESBURG — Family and friends of Rachel Likes said that she would light up the room and make them laugh.

“She was just goofy, funny, polite,” Rachel’s mother Debra Likes said Wednesday. “She’d have me laughing so hard I’d be crying.”

More: State: Evidence shows Ramey killed Likes; Defense: Police botched investigation

Likes, who was 26, was shot to death Jan. 4, 2021, outside 343 W. 1st. St. Maquesha Ramey was found guilty Thursday of three counts of first degree murder.

Standing outside the courtroom Wednesday, a number of Likes’ friends recalled how she loved to cook and was a good person.

“She loved to dance. She was a good cook. She didn’t let us argue, she was the peacemaker,” Erica Gomez said, a friend of Likes for over 14 years.

Remy Townsell, a friend of Likes for over 10 years, said that Likes was getting ready to go back to school and become a certified nurse.

“She wanted a better life and her life was taken from her,” Townsell said.

More: Ramey testifies Likes was alive when she left; then she heard more shots as she drove away

Posts on the tribute wall of Likes’ obituary remembered her as “truly caring,” a “dynamic young lady” and a “beautiful soul.”

Likes’ 4-year-old son Kohen Lee Likes was in the back seat of her Chevrolet Impala when Likes was killed.

“The only thing I got to say is the person that doesn’t get to testify is Rachel,” Likes’ brother-in-law Kenneth Jones said. “She doesn’t get to tell her story. She doesn’t get to see her son grow up.”

Debra Likes affirmed that it is not just Rachel’s family that has been affected by her death, but a lot of different people.

“People need to know that,” Rachel’s mother said. “That she was not just somebody to be tossed in the trash can.”

This article originally appeared on Galesburg Register-Mail: Rachel Likes' family, friends remember her as murder trial wraps up