Key'Mydre Palmer Anderson, a 16-year-old African American male, was tragically found with a gunshot wound on January 22, 2022, in Mesquite, Texas. Initially, officers believed he was involved in a car accident, but it was later determined that he had been shot. Witnesses reported seeing him fall from a vehicle, and he was found near Cornerstone Baptist Church, less than two minutes from his home. Despite being rushed to the hospital, he succumbed to his injuries.
Key'Mydre was a sophomore at Horn High School and worked at Sonic to support his family after the death of his uncle.
The investigation into Key'Mydre's death revealed that he was shot during a failed robbery attempt involving the sale of a firearm. On the night of his death, Key'Mydre had completed a shift at Sonic and later got into a black Honda Civic with someone he knew. Less than an hour later, he was found with a gunshot wound to his chest. Witnesses described seeing him hanging out of a car window before falling onto the street. At the time of his death, he was only wearing a t-shirt and underwear, and his body had road rashes, indicating he had been dragged.
Four individuals were arrested in connection with Key'Mydre's murder. Johnathan Pyle, 19, Simon Guillen, 18, Crystal Guillen, 34, and a 15-year-old juvenile were charged with capital murder. Crystal Guillen is the mother of Simon Guillen. Investigators discovered that the suspects had conspired to rob Key'Mydre, leading to the fatal shooting. The suspects were tracked down through data from multiple social media accounts, which showed their involvement in the crime. The investigation revealed that Key'Mydre was killed over $250 during the attempted robbery.
Key'Mydre's family has been deeply affected by his death. His mother, Shenika Palmer, expressed her grief and the pain of losing her first-born son. The family set up an online crowdfunding campaign to help cope with the financial burden and to seek justice for Key'Mydre. The community held a prayer service in his memory, and the Mesquite Police Department continues to investigate the case to ensure that justice is served.
