Police Respond To Fatal Drive-By Shooting

Although residential areas are often considered safe, this incident shows that danger can still find its way in. On the 4th of July, 19-year-old Matthew was celebrating with his family when a white Kia sped through the neighborhood. After being asked to slow down, someone from the car suddenly fired a shot, hitting Matthew. Initially mistaking the sound for fireworks, his family soon realized something was terribly wrong and called 911.

Medics arrived quickly and tried to save Matthew, who was still breathing despite his critical injuries. Meanwhile, officers used surveillance footage and witness accounts to track down the suspect vehicle after a pursuit.

Three young adults, Morris (known as Momo), Aungelique, and Antonio (known as Toni), aged 19 to 21, were apprehended. The motive behind the shooting remained unclear at first. The incident deeply traumatized Matthew’s family, especially the children who witnessed it.

During questioning, Antonio became defensive, while Aungelique cooperated with police, revealing that Antonio was the shooter. Initially charged with first-degree assault, Antonio’s charge was upgraded to first-degree m*rder after Matthew passed away three days later. He was held on a $2 million bail.

Later, another firearm found in the vehicle was linked to Morris, leading to his arrest and first-degree m*rder charge with a $1.5 million bail.

This tragedy serves as a painful reminder of how impulsive decisions can destroy lives, not just for victims, but for the young offenders and their families too.