In the spring of 2024, the life of 20-year-old Mahayla Swayze was tragically cut short in Hot Springs, Arkansas. On the evening of Friday, March 22nd, she and a friend, Adrianna Howell, also 20, were seated in a parked car on Beard Street when they were both struck by gunfire. Emergency services arrived at the scene around 5:15 p.m. to find both women with gunshot wounds. Howell was pronounced dead at the scene. Mahayla Swayze was rushed to a local hospital for treatment of her injuries.
Despite the efforts of medical staff, she succumbed to her wounds on Sunday, March 24, 2024.
Mahayla was a beloved daughter, sister, and friend, remembered for her infectious smile and passion for life. A graduate of Lake Hamilton High School, she had been a talented gymnast and pole vaulter, even attending Culver-Stockton College on a pole vaulting scholarship. She had a gift for coaching and dedicated her time to teaching gymnastics to children, leaving a lasting impact on her young students with her kindness and patience.
The Hot Springs Police Department launched an immediate investigation into the double homicide. Their work quickly led them to identify multiple juvenile suspects. By the following Monday, two juvenile suspects were taken into custody. A third juvenile suspect turned himself in to the police on Tuesday. All three suspects are facing serious charges, including two counts of capital murder and one count of aggravated robbery. The investigation into the circumstances that led to the fatal shooting is ongoing.
