A 16-year-old Texas cheerleader from Allen High School, A’mya Batie, was shot to death in a parking lot in Lewisville.
Police said officers responded on Thursday, June 27, at around 10:45 p.m to the parking lot of the Lakeland Plaza shopping center, where Batie and a man were found critically injured by gunfire.
The two victims apparently tried to flee the scene in a car but crashed on a service road outside the parking lot. A third victim with minor injuries was also reported. The identities of the two other victims were not released, according to WFAA-TV.
Police believe “someone knows who is responsible for this act,” due to many people in the area who could have witnessed the shooting, police said, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Batie was declared dead at the hospital, according to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner. The results of an autopsy are pending.
A GoFundMe page started for Batie to support her family and to raise a scholarship in her name. Its original target was set at $2,500, which was achieved within hours. Now it’s set at $10,000, with more than $9,400 raised by Sunday afternoon.
“She leaves us with memories of how to live a Spontaneous, Positive, Happy and Full life,” the GoFundMe page states. “While we search for ways to heal our broken hearts, we gather strength by keeping her memory and her love of life in our hearts and thoughts.”
Batie had recently made the varsity cheerleading squad for the upcoming school year.
Lauren Bradfield, a teammate of Batie’s, told WFAA, “We tried out together, and we were on JV together. She was the goofiest, funniest, and happiest person you could ever meet. Never met a stranger,” she said.
“It just kind of feels like a piece of me is missing,” she added.
Fellow teammates Molly Ryan and Mckenna Clark echoed similar sentiments.
“She was literally friends with everyone from all different cities,” Clark, a soon to be senior, said. “She made the team a better team.”
“She was looking forward to getting her letterman, just stuff that we take for granted,” Ryan said. “Her life hadn’t even started yet.”
Cheer coach Cindy Gambill told WFAA, “It’s all still surreal. I think it will start hitting us when we start practice in August.”
She continued: “She was the glue that kept us all together. I hope whoever did this understands that they took a life and have destroyed a lot of people.”
I lost one of my bestfriends last night, June 27 2019. Her name was A’mya Alane Batie and she died from a shooting. She was only 16 years old and had a whole life ahead of her. I love you so much I can’t even express it. I wish I was there with you… and I’m sorry. Sleep well.❤️ pic.twitter.com/4Veow8S5Rp
— Bria Shavers (@BriaShavers) June 28, 2019
The school district released a statement after Batie’s death, via WFAA: “The entire Allen ISD community extends its deepest condolences to A’mya’s family and loved ones.”
A Tuesday night candlelight memorial and balloon release are scheduled for Batie.
Anyone with information or anonymous tips on the shooting is asked to call 972-219-TIPS (8477), police said.
