A festive late-night gathering turned deadly in Amarillo, Texas, when gunfire erupted outside an apartment building in the early hours of Saturday, May 2, leaving two teenagers dead and ten others injured.
Among the victims was 17-year-old Ezekiel Rudy Almazan, whose heartbroken mother has since spoken out about the immense loss of her son.
The Amarillo Police Department confirmed that the shooting took place during a party attended by both minors and young adults.
The event originally started at a separate location before relocating to a nearby apartment building. According to preliminary findings by investigators, a group of individuals who had been asked to leave the original party followed the gathering to the new location.
When denied entry, they allegedly opened fire using a rifle-style weapon, sending chaos through the crowd and leaving multiple victims in their wake.
A Community Mourns Ezekiel
Ezekiel Rudy Almazan has been publicly identified as one of the two teenagers who lost their lives that night. He was just 17 years old. In the painful hours following the tragedy, his mother turned to GoFundMe to honor her son’s memory and share her grief with the world.
“There are no words that can truly express the pain in my heart right now,” she wrote. “Ezekiel was more than my son — he was my joy, my strength, and a beautiful blessing in my life. Anyone who knew him knows how much love he carried and how deeply he touched the people around him.”
Her words painted a portrait of a young man deeply loved and widely admired by those in his circle. As donations pour in to support the family, neighbors and community members have rallied around them during an unimaginable time.
The second victim, a 16-year-old male, has not yet been publicly identified at the request of his family. Both boys were far too young to have their lives cut short by senseless violence.
Investigation Ongoing as Suspects Remain at Large
As of Sunday, no arrests have been made. Amarillo Police believe two suspects were involved in the shooting, though their ages and identities have not yet been confirmed publicly.
Investigators say the attack appears to have been targeted, with the suspects reportedly known to at least one person present at the gathering.
Physical evidence recovered at the scene includes a Glock 9mm handgun found outside the apartment building. Investigators also believe multiple weapons were used, based on the ballistic evidence collected.
Ten additional victims sustained injuries in the shooting, though their current conditions have not been fully disclosed.
Police are urging anyone in the surrounding area who may have captured footage on doorbell cameras or surveillance systems during the early morning hours of May 2 to come forward and submit that footage to the Amarillo Police Department.
The investigation remains active and ongoing.
