On the evening of December 11, 2021, tragedy struck in Independence, Missouri, when 16-year-old Black male Avonte 'Fats' Dewitt George was fatally shot while visiting a residence in the 600 block of North Westwood Drive. Independence police officers were dispatched to the home shortly before 7:00 p.m. following reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, first responders found the teenager suffering from a gunshot wound to the head.
He was rushed to a local hospital for emergency treatment but succumbed to his injuries. The incident occurred just days before his seventeenth birthday and in the same year that his family had already suffered the loss of his mother.
The investigation quickly focused on 19-year-old Elijah L. Soliz, who was present at the scene and identified as a friend of the victim. According to court documents, Soliz initially claimed to officers that he was merely holding the firearm when it accidentally discharged. However, during subsequent interviews, his account shifted, and he stated that he had dropped the gun and it fired upon his attempt to catch it. He also admitted to investigators that he had been smoking marijuana prior to the incident. A witness at the scene provided a more disturbing account, telling police that Soliz had pointed the pistol at the victim's head for approximately 30 to 45 seconds before the weapon fired. This witness also indicated that another individual had manipulated the slide of the gun, potentially chambering a round, before handing it to Soliz, though it was unclear if Soliz was aware the weapon was loaded.
Following the shooting, Jackson County prosecutors charged Elijah Soliz with first-degree involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action. Authorities noted that Soliz and the victim were close friends, with Soliz reportedly referring to the teen as his 'best friend.' The legal filings highlighted the reckless nature of the act, detailing how the suspect was 'messing' with the gun's hammer when his thumb allegedly slipped, causing the discharge. At the time of the charges, Soliz was held on bond as the case proceeded through the legal system.
Avonte George was remembered by his community as a vivacious and protective figure who served as a 'glue' for his large family, especially after his mother's passing earlier that year. He was a junior at Lee’s Summit North High School and had recently begun working at a Whataburger restaurant. Known for his love of basketball and video games, he was looking forward to the holidays and his upcoming birthday. His sudden death left his father and siblings navigating a second major bereavement in a short span of time, with the community rallying to support them through the investigation and legal proceedings.
