Six-year-old Aylayna Lee Key Rider Ross was fatally shot on January 10, 2024, inside her family’s townhome in Dallas, Texas. Police responded about 2:40 p.m. to the 2100 block of North Fitzhugh Avenue and found Aylayna with a critical gunshot wound; she later died at a hospital. She was in the residence with two adults and two other children when the shooting occurred.

Investigators say 19-year-old Damariya Sowels, a friend of Aylayna’s older brother, admitted bringing two firearms into the home and placing a loaded MAC-10 on top of a PlayStation in a third-floor bedroom. After the shooting Sowels allegedly tried to hide the weapons in a backpack in the garage and was arrested on a tampering with physical evidence charge; he also faced unrelated warrants for evading arrest and unlawful carrying of a weapon.

The family had already been mourning 14-year-old Ah’bralen Rider, who was shot and killed December 29, 2023, in an incident believed to involve celebratory gunfire; a 16-year-old male suspect was arrested in that case. Neighbors and loved ones emphasized secure firearm storage. If anyone has information that could help investigators, please come forward.