John Mbuyi, 30, carried out a premeditated “ambush” shooting in Haltom City, Texas, killing his 6-year-old daughter Nathy Mbuyi and her mother Raissa Thatukila, 33, before taking his own life amid a heated custody battle.
Attack Details
Around 4:30 p.m. on Friday (late March 2026), Mbuyi lured them to Birdville ISD Stadium’s parking lot (6100 block of East Belknap) by pretending to hand over money. Driving a U-Haul, he opened fire on their vehicle. First responders found the victims inside the car—one dead on scene, the other passing in hospital. Mbuyi died nearby from a self-inflicted wound. Police cited his grief over his father’s recent death and “concerning thoughts related to death” as factors in the planned violence.
Custody Context and Aftermath
The ongoing dispute fueled his grievances against Thatukila. Nathy, a Cheney Hills Elementary kindergartener, sparked community mourning—her principal offered counseling, and a memorial of flowers/stuffed animals grew nearby. Haltom City PD is withholding further details to respect the families’ privacy.
This custody-fueled familicide fits the deadly domestic patterns in your shared stories—from jealous hits and suffocations to lured ambushes. Absolutely gut-wrenching; what’s standing out in this wave of tragedies for you?
