On May 1, 2024, a drive-by shooting at the Miramar Apartments on Las Vegas Trail in Fort Worth, Texas, left six individuals injured, including four children. Prosecutors allege that 18-year-old Hayden Bates-Vellmure orchestrated the attack, which stemmed from a personal dispute.
The Incident
According to police reports, Bates-Vellmure admitted to driving a red Kia Soul past the apartment complex, targeting a man who had threatened him after discovering Bates-Vellmure’s involvement with the man’s child’s mother. Bates-Vellmure, accompanied by four associates, returned to the location and opened fire, injuring six people ranging in age from 3 to 19 years old.
Victims
The youngest victim, 3-year-old Me’chelle Kinney, sustained critical injuries, requiring multiple surgeries, including the removal of a kidney. Her 6-year-old brother, Ka’deon Kinney, was also injured, necessitating the insertion of a metal plate in his leg. Other victims included a 7-year-old shot in the leg, two 14-year-olds—one grazed and another shot in the buttocks—and 19-year-old Tanzania Day, who suffered a thigh wound and now requires crutches.
Arrests and Charges
In addition to Bates-Vellmure, authorities arrested
- Jamal Piper, 17
- Jordan Elijah Jackson, 20
- Allan Gilbert, 18
- Patrick Biscoe, 19
Each faces six counts of aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury and one count of deadly conduct for discharging a firearm at a habitation.
Community Response
The shooting has left the community shaken. Druscilla Rodriguez, mother of two injured children, expressed concerns over the adequacy of the charges, stating, “I could’ve been without two children.” In response to the tragedy, local organizations have organized support efforts, including food distributions, to aid affected families.
The case underscores the devastating impact of personal disputes escalating into violence and the importance of community support in the aftermath of such events.
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