On the evening of February 9, 2024, Vatrice Chyna LaShae Little, 35, was fatally shot in an Aurora, Colorado, apartment on Paris Street. She had been braiding hair with her cousin Deondranay McCain in a bedroom when McCain’s ex-husband, 32-year-old Kelynn Lewis, entered armed with a handgun. McCain dropped to the floor and pretended to be dead; Vatrice is believed to have moved in front of her cousin to protect her and was struck by multiple shots, including a fatal gunshot wound to the face. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Lewis fled but was located and arrested about 36 hours later. The Adams County District Attorney charged him with first-degree murder in Vatrice Little’s death and attempted first-degree murder for the attack on McCain; he also faced four counts of misdemeanor child abuse because children were in another room during the shooting. Lewis’s prior record included burglary and being a felon in possession of a weapon.

Anyone who knew Vatrice, was in the area that night, or has information about the incident is asked to come forward.