On January 1, 2026, in the early hours of New Year’s Day, 15-year-old Brynnlee Hampton, a sophomore at Tascosa High School in Amarillo, Texas, was fatally shot while leaving a party in a car with other teens. According to court documents cited by News Channel 10, Jeremiah Luke Lajuan Matthews, 17, was playing with a gun, waving it around and pointing it at passengers, including Hampton in the front seat. The firearm discharged, striking her. Eight juveniles were in the vehicle.
Police responded, found Hampton with a gunshot wound, and rushed her to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. A single bullet hole and blood were noted on the front passenger seat.
Charges and Arrests
- Jeremiah Luke Lajuan Matthews, 17: Charged with second-degree felony manslaughter. Bail set at $500,000. Booked into Potter County Detention Center on January 1.
- Landrey Korde Matthews, 17: Charged with third-degree felony tampering with or fabricating physical evidence (allegedly took the gun from Jeremiah and threw it down the street). Bail set at $250,000. Also booked on January 1.
No relation between the two Matthews is confirmed, and neither has public legal representation noted. Amarillo Police have not commented publicly as of January 4.
Victim Tribute
Brynnlee was an athletic volleyball player, recently inducted into the National Honor Society, and described by family as loving God, her family, and possessing a “strong and kind spirit.” A GoFundMe supports funeral expenses. Her high school volleyball team posted: “Our hearts are broken… Brynnlee was a light on and off the court.” Tributes emphasize her impact on family, friends, and teammates.
This tragedy underscores risks of mishandling firearms among youth—Texas law treats manslaughter as a second-degree felony (2-20 years prison), while evidence tampering is third-degree (2-10 years). For local updates, check Amarillo Police or Potter County jail records.
