The search continues for two suspects accused in a deadly shooting outside an Amarillo apartment complex that left two teenagers dead and 10 others injured, according to Amarillo Police Department Chief Thomas Hover.
The shooting happened around 2 a.m. on May 2 outside the Westminster Apartments in Amarillo. Police identified the victims killed as 16-year-old Deven Antonucci and 17-year-old Ezekiel Rudy Almazon.
Authorities believe the violence may be tied to gang activity and involved two shooters using AR-style rifles. Chief Hover said investigators recovered two rifles believed to have been used in the attack and that more than 40 shots were fired during the incident.
“Our officers and investigators are working actively to investigate this incident,” Hover said. “While I can’t go into the details, I can tell you that we do and we are talking to some people of interest, and we’re still working through all of the evidence that was collected at the time of the offense that happened, as well as information we’ve gathered through the investigation.”
Hover added that ballistic evidence recovered at the scene matched the location of the shooting.
The chief said investigators believe the shooting was targeted and not a random act of violence. According to police, the victims and suspects were known to one another.
“So all the challenges that we have with violent crime, specifically gang-related offenses, these offenses specifically, what we’re seeing is they’re known to the offenders,” Hover said. “So the suspects and the victims are known to each other. These aren’t random acts of violence. These are targeted.”
Investigators say the shooting stemmed from an earlier gathering on Mississippi Street. Hover compared the case to another Amarillo shooting that happened March 22 at a house party where suspects allegedly retrieved firearms after being turned away.
“Older teenager type party, and an individual tries to get into that party with a weapon or a gun. And then they were turned away,” Hover said. “And the events that happened on March 22nd, they went to their car, retrieved that gun, and began to shoot. And this incident, they left the party but stayed around where they could see. And then they followed the group of people to this next address.”
Hover said all suspects connected to the recent shootings are legally adults, despite still being teenagers.
“All the individuals as far as the suspects are concerned are adults,” Hover said. “While they are teenagers, they still are adults over the age of 17 and older.”
The Westminster Apartments shooting marks Amarillo’s 10th homicide of the year, raising concerns among residents about violent crime in the city. Hover acknowledged those concerns but emphasized that the department believes the incidents are connected to ongoing disputes between known individuals.
“Unfortunately, what we have seen twice now, not only with the incident that happened on Saturday morning, but there are other people that were close by that were caught up in the gunfire,” Hover said. “Those are the residents who live directly below the targeted address.”
Following the shooting, APD announced it is activating a permanent gang unit in an effort to address growing gang-related violence more proactively. Hover said the department had previously operated the unit on a part-time basis, but restructuring efforts began earlier this year.
“At the beginning of March, I acknowledged internally within the organization about a restructuring,” Hover said. “And part of that had to do with announcing the permanent gang unit as well as adding or increasing our staffing levels to patrol.”
Hover said the unit has already identified more than 400 gang members while operating part time, and he expects that number to increase as officers focus more heavily on investigations and enforcement.
“As we move forward, unfortunately, I expect that number to go up because we’re going to be focused on identifying, addressing, and disrupting the gang activity,” Hover said.
The chief described the groups involved as “hybrid gangs,” saying they differ from traditional gangs because members frequently shift allegiances and seek to elevate their status through violence.
“These folks are associated with what’s called a hybrid gang,” Hover said. “There’s not as much loyalty, a little jump from gang to gang. And they’re always looking to try to one-up the other.”
Hover also urged parents and community members to stay aware of changes in young people’s behavior and to properly secure firearms.
“The first thing is to know and understand where our kids are, right?” Hover said. “Recognize who they’re hanging out with. Recognizes changes in behavior. Do they have money that they didn’t have before? Do they have a new phone that they didn’t have before?”
He also stressed the importance of gun safety.
“Are we leaving our guns in the car, where they’re unsecured and unsafe?” Hover said. “So there are ways that we can continue to improve how we secure our weapons, whether it’s in our home or in our car.”
Hover said APD will continue working with local, state and federal agencies as the investigation remains ongoing.
“It’s protecting the vulnerable from harm,” Hover said. “We, as an organization, will continue to work around the clock with not only our local, state, and federal partners, to have an effect on what’s going on here in Amarillo. I can tell you you’ll see a visible difference in the days, weeks, and even months following.”
