On November 15, 2021, Daijhuan Jones, a 16-year-old male student at Birdville High School from North Richland Hills, was tragically shot and killed at North Park in Haltom City, Texas. The incident occurred around 3:30 p.m. at a basketball court within the park. Alongside Daijhuan, 17-year-old Isaiah Mendoza from Haltom City was also found dead at the scene.
The police responded to reports of gunfire and confirmed that neither of the victims had fired shots.
Following the incident, Haltom City police launched an investigation and identified three suspects: a 17-year-old juvenile, another juvenile, and a 17-year-old named Rylin Montgomery. All three were charged with capital murder. The juvenile suspects were arrested shortly after the shooting, while Rylin Montgomery surrendered to police and was held on a $750,000 bond. The investigation involved collaboration with multiple agencies, including the U.S. Marshals Task Force.
The tragic deaths of Daijhuan Jones and Isaiah Mendoza deeply affected the community, prompting Birdville ISD to request additional police security and provide counseling services for students. A vigil was held on November 16, 2021, where Daijhuan's mother, Elizabeth Lopez, expressed gratitude for her son's life and his beautiful soul.
The case remains under investigation, and the suspects face serious legal proceedings as the community continues to seek justice for the young victims.
