Four Suspects Now in Custody After Gang Shooting Wounded Six Including an 11-Year-Old Boy

A Neighborhood Shattered by Gang Violence

The shooting happened in the 5900 block of Plum Creek at approximately 8 p.m. on June 17. According to a preliminary investigation, two individuals involved in a gang-related dispute became engaged in an argument that escalated into an exchange of gunfire — and both were struck, along with four bystanders who were in the immediate area. What began as a confrontation between two people quickly spiraled into a mass casualty event that rocked an Amarillo apartment complex and left a community demanding answers.

All six victims were transported to area hospitals for treatment of their injuries. Among the most heartbreaking cases to emerge: an 11-year-old boy named Julian was identified as one of the victims. He was shot twice and had to be airlifted to Lubbock and placed in the PICU. His family's GoFundMe states that he underwent surgery to remove the bullet, but his injuries are more severe than expected. Julian now faces a long recovery, as he will have to relearn how to walk after being shot while swimming.

A Wave of Arrests Follows the Shooting

The Texas Department of Public Safety arrested the first suspect in connection to the Plum Creek Apartments shooting on the night of June 17. A suspect was arrested by Texas DPS while leaving the scene — 18-year-old Jeremiah Hunter, charged with tampering with evidence and booked into the Potter County Jail. Amarillo Police also confirmed that a traffic stop near 3rd and McMasters, where a gunshot victim was found, is related to this incident.

Then, on June 20, investigators announced a significant breakthrough. 18-year-old Davion Ashley was arrested on a warrant for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and also charged with resisting arrest and assault on a peace officer. During the investigation, officials identified 20-year-old Jacob Jimenez Jr. as another suspect; he was arrested on a warrant for tampering with evidence and also faces on-view charges of resisting arrest, assault on a peace officer, manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance, and tampering with physical evidence with intent to impair. 18-year-old Awetik Rahma was also arrested on a warrant for tampering and fabricating physical evidence with intent to impair. All three were booked into the Potter County Detention Center.

Victims Still Fighting for Recovery

As of Friday, June 20, one victim was recovering from surgery while another remained in critical condition. At least one person was critically injured in the shooting — Wyatt Fjetland was shot in the head and remained in critical condition, with his family saying the outlook was not favorable. The human toll of this incident — six wounded, including a child, and multiple lives hanging in the balance — underscores just how indiscriminate gun violence can be when it erupts in a residential neighborhood.

The new arrests followed continued investigation by the Amarillo Police Department Violent Crimes Detectives, Task Force Officers, and staff from the Amarillo Regional Crime Center. APD detectives from Violent Crimes and Homicide, the Crime Scene Unit, ARCC, and the Gang Unit are all involved in the investigation. The breadth of units deployed signals how seriously the department is treating this case.

A City Pushing Back Against Gang Violence

On June 18, APD addressed public concerns about gang violence in a social media post, writing: "Like many in our community, we are deeply saddened and concerned by the recent acts of violence in Amarillo. We understand the fear, frustration, and questions many of our citizens are experiencing, and we want you to know that we hear you." APD also shared a video from Chief Thomas Hover addressing the public and noted that the department has deployed a new dedicated gang unit and increased patrol operation staffing.

Police say the investigation remains ongoing. With four suspects now in custody and detectives still actively working the case, more arrests could follow. For the Amarillo community — and especially for the families of an 11-year-old boy and a man shot in the head — justice cannot come fast enough. The pressure is now on law enforcement to ensure that everyone responsible for turning a summer evening into a tragedy is held fully accountable.