Brynlee Hampton dies in fatal Amarillo New Year’s Day shooting

Brynlee Hampton dies in fatal Amarillo New Year’s Day shooting
Fatal Amarillo New Year’s Day shooting death of Brynlee Hampton – Obituary

Brynlee Hampton, 15, was killed in a shooting on Westwind Avenue in Amarillo early on New Year’s Day, authorities said. The incident led to manslaughter charges against 17-year-old Jeremiah Luke Lajuan Matthews.

According to court records, Matthews had been handling a firearm inside a vehicle, pointing it at passengers moments before the shooting. Around 1:10 a.m., police responded to reports of gunfire in the 6000 block of Westwind Avenue, finding Hampton shot while seated in the front passenger seat. She was taken to Northwest Hospital, where she later died.

Investigators said the vehicle’s juvenile driver, along with other passengers, confirmed that Matthews waved the gun and accidentally discharged it. The driver initially mistook the gunshot for fireworks and attempted to call her mother, but Matthews tried to prevent her from getting help. Another 17-year-old, Landrey Korde Matthews, reportedly took the gun and threw it down the street; he now faces charges for tampering with evidence.

Brynlee Hampton was an accomplished student at Tascosa High School, where she played volleyball and was a member of the National Honor Society.