A six-year-old girl was fatally shot in East Dallas on January 10, 2024, in an incident that occurred just weeks after her 14-year-old brother, Ah-Bralen Rider, was killed in a separate shooting two weeks ago. The tragic string of events has left the community in a state of shock and grief, prompting a thorough investigation by the Dallas Police.
Aylayna Modica-Ross was shot around 2:40 p.m. in the 2100 block of N. Fitzhugh Avenue. According to police reports, she was inside a home with other children at the time of the incident. The Dallas Police Department, upon arrival at the scene, found the injured child and transported her to a local hospital. Unfortunately, she succumbed to her injuries and was later pronounced dead.
Investigators revealed that an unsecured firearm was found at the scene. Information provided by individuals with knowledge of the situation, along with accounts from relatives and neighbors, points to the likelihood that Aylayna shot herself unintentionally.
Officers interviewed several adults and have also took a number of small children, who were present in the residence at the time of the event, into temporary custody for questioning.
On Thursday, January 11, officers summoned 19-year-old Damariya Sowels to provide testimony regarding the shooting. According to the police, during the questioning, he confessed to having positioned a MAC-10 on top of the PlayStation situated in the third-floor bedroom on Tuesday. Following the incident on Wednesday, detectives said that he retrieved the MAC-10 and tucked it away in a backpack along with a Glock 40, concealing them in the house’s garage.
Sowels was charged with tampering with evidence in connection to the case. His bond is set at $104,000. Police reported he already had three outstanding warrants – two for evading arrest and one for unlawfully carrying a weapon.
This incident follows closely another tragedy for the family. Ah-Bralen, the victim’s older brother, 14, was fatally shot near Harry Hines and Oak Lawn on December 29, 2023. A 16-year-old was charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon that was upgraded to manslaughter after the boy’s death on December 31.
The mother of the children was not home at the time of Aylayna’s shooting, and was at a funeral home arranging the funeral of her son for the upcoming Saturday. Overwhelmed by the loss of her two children, she expressed her grief publicly, stating she wanted justice for her son, who she described as an innocent child.
While Dallas has seen a decrease in overall violent crime, with a more than 13% reduction in 2023 compared to the previous year, the city has experienced a troubling increase in murder rates. According to Dallas Police Department statistics, murders in the city increased by 14.95% in 2023. This surge is part of a worrying trend in which a majority of murders occur in residences or apartment complexes, and over 70% of victims are involved in criminal activities.
The Dallas Police Department is actively implementing strategies to combat this rise in violent crimes. Their approach includes hot spot policing, network investigations, and focused deterrence, all part of the Violent Crime Reduction Strategic Plan initiated in 2021.
The Fort Worth Police Department has reiterated the importance of gun safety, especially in households with children. They recommend storing guns in locked safes, using gun locks, and ensuring firearms are kept unloaded and inaccessible to children. Open communication about gun safety with children is also emphasized as a crucial preventive measure.