Evette Marie Quezada, an 18-year-old Hispanic female from Ferris, Texas, tragically lost her life on July 12, 2015. The incident occurred in the early hours of the morning, around 2:26 a.m., when Ellis County Sheriff's Deputies were dispatched to a disturbance in the 100 block of Newton Road in Ferris. Upon arrival, deputies found Evette Quezada deceased from a single gunshot wound to the head. Two male individuals were also present at the scene and were taken to area hospitals for treatment.
One of the males, identified as Quezada's older brother, suffered a gunshot wound to the hand and was expected to fully recover. The other male, Frank "Frankie" Ortiz, 30, of Lancaster, was also injured and later arrested for the shooting.
Investigators determined that the trio had been in a car together, with Quezada's brother driving. The exact circumstances leading to the shooting remain unclear, but it was established that words were exchanged, which escalated into gunfire. Ortiz, who was identified as Quezada's cousin, though not blood-related, was arrested on a murder charge and booked into the Wayne McCollum Detention Center with a bond set at $1 million. The motive behind the shooting remains unknown, and Ortiz chose to speak to an attorney after being read his Miranda rights.
Evette Quezada was a recent graduate of Ferris High School and a star on the school's cross-country team. She was remembered by friends and family as a hardworking and determined individual who was active in her church and community. Her tragic death shocked the local community, and a vigil was held at her school to honor her memory. Quezada's viewing was scheduled for Thursday, and her funeral was planned for Friday morning. The investigation into her death continued, with authorities seeking to understand the events that led to the fatal shooting.
