Arrests made in Fort Worth drive-by shooting that injured several children

Following a drive-by shooting that left families and children injured outside a Fort Worth apartment complex, five individuals are now in custody.

The incident occurred at the Miramar Apartments on the Las Vegas Trail on May 1. According to an arrest affidavit, 18-year-old Hayden Bates-Vellmure allegedly orchestrated the shooting as retaliation against a man who had threatened him for his involvement with the mother of the man’s child. However, instead of hitting the intended target, the gunfire primarily struck children.

Bates-Vellmure, along with 18-year-old Allan Gilbert, 17-year-old Jamal Piper, 20-year-old Jordan Jackson, and 19-year-old Patrick Biscoe, face multiple charges, including aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury and discharge of a firearm from a motor vehicle.

“We want to send a message out there. You cannot just go shoot into a crowd of people without the fear of consequences,” stated Fort Worth Police spokesperson Buddy Calzada.

Marquita Devereux, whose 14-year-old was among the injured, returned to the complex for a food distribution event organized by local pastors and the Tarrant Area Food Bank. Her living room window remains damaged from the bullets.

“They shot kids. These kids could’ve died. So I think justice is served by them not being on the streets anymore, but as far as their charges go, I think they should be heavier than what they are,” Devereux remarked.

Dontee Kinney, whose three-year-old daughter sustained injuries, expressed similar sentiments, believing the charges against the suspects should be more severe.

Police confiscated 11 guns during the arrests and are working to determine which firearm was used in the shooting. They credit witness accounts and surveillance footage for leading to the apprehension of the suspects.