Tyshaun Bates, a 20-year-old African American male from Lubbock, Texas, tragically lost his life on April 10, 2019. Bates was shot and killed during a robbery at his apartment in the 4600 block of 50th Street. The incident occurred when he was selling marijuana from his apartment. Two masked men, one of whom was identified as Daytron Deon Hood, 22, stormed into Bates' apartment while a woman, Lisa Marie Morales, 24, was present.
Morales had gone to Bates' apartment to purchase marijuana but claimed she didn't have enough money and stepped out to retrieve more from her car. As she left, the two armed men entered the apartment, and Bates was shot.
Following the incident, Daytron Hood was arrested and charged with murder. Lisa Morales was arrested and charged with aggravated robbery, while another suspect, Quawnard Williams, was arrested for assault but not murder. Morales testified during the trial of James Dora, one of the five defendants, revealing the plan to rob Bates. Dora was found guilty and sentenced to 45 years in prison for his involvement in the robbery. Christopher Thomas, another defendant, accepted a plea bargain and was sentenced to 45 years in prison for his role in the murder.
Tyshaun Bates' mother, LaTissue Butler, has publicly forgiven the suspects involved in her son's murder. She has expressed that forgiving them was a necessary step for her own healing and to move forward for the sake of her other children. Despite the tragedy, Butler keeps her son's memory alive through pictures and cherishes every moment they had together.
The case remains a poignant reminder of the devastating impact of violent crime on families and communities. The Lubbock Police Department and the Metropolitan Special Crimes Unit continue to investigate the case, seeking justice for Tyshaun Bates and closure for his loved ones.
