Fight over woman led to Fort Worth drive-by shooting that injured 6, affidavit says
FORT WORTH, Texas - Arguments over a woman allegedly prompted the Fort Worth drive-by shooting that injured six people, including several children, earlier this month.
On Thursday, Fort Worth police announced the arrest of five suspects connected to the shooting at the Miramar Apartments on Las Vegas Trail. The six victims ranged in age from 3 years old to 19 years old.
According to an arrest warrant affidavit, investigators used security video of the shooting to identify a red Kia Soul pulling up to the apartment complex before opening fire.
"No kids should’ve been shot. They had a bullet for every one of us that day," said Marquite Devereux, whose son was grazed by a bullet.
Druscilla Rodriguez's daughter and son were among the most severely injured.
"As far as my three-year-old it’s going to be a long recovery process with her. My six-year-old, he’s having to do physical therapy to get that leg back working," said Rodriguez.
"One bullet went behind my daughter that was on the inside. It went behind her and she ran in the kitchen. Then my son was grazed outside," said Devereux.
Cameras also captured the vehicle’s license plate, which led detectives to 18-year-old Hayden Bates-Vellmure.
During questioning, Bates-Vellmure told detectives he was the one driving the Kia at the time of the shooting, the affidavit states.
Bates-Vellmure admitted he’d slept with a woman and her child’s father found out about it. The other man then threaten to hurt Bates-Vellmure.
The police document states Bates-Vellmure gathered four friends, including two who had guns, to drive by the other man’s apartment.
"Hayden went with four other males in the red Kia Soul and saw the male outside with a large group of people. Hayden passed by once, then came around again and ‘let off fire,’" the affidavit states.
Detectives used witness testimony and cellphone evidence to identify and arrest the four other suspects.
They include 17-year-old Jamal Piper, 20-year-old Jordan Jackson, 18-year-old Allan Gilbert, and 19-year-old Patrick Biscoe.
All five men are now charged with multiple counts of aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury and one count of deadly conduct for discharging a firearm at a habitation.
Fort Worth shooting: 5 arrested in drive-by that injured 6
Fort Worth police say 5 suspects have been arrested in connection to a drive-by shooting at an apartment complex earlier this month.
"They were all parties to the offense and did conspire to engage in the action that resulted in five children and one adult being injured," the arrest warrant affidavit states.
"Don’t get me wrong. I’m happy that they caught them, but it’s the charges for me. It’s not strong enough. It doesn’t fit the crime. I could’ve been without two children," said Rodriguez.
A mini food giveaway was held at the apartment complex on Friday as part of a recovery effort.
A community network is focused on getting help where help is needed.
"We’re able to kind of fill the gap and help meet needs so they can focus on other things like getting well," said Paige Carbonnet, with Las Vegas Trail Rise.
"We’ve been close before this happened, but since then, even now that it’s happened, we make sure we keep in communication with each other," said Devereux.
Fort Worth police believe all suspects in the case are now under arrest.