Keniyah Brenae Williams, 19, was shot late on May 27, 2025, in Jasper, Texas, and died shortly after arriving at Christus Jasper Memorial Hospital. Police and local reports say the wound was to her head and that she was transported to the hospital by her boyfriend, Kristopher Tayshaun Drayton, after the shooting inside a vehicle near downtown Jasper, close to West Gibson and Main streets. A firearm believed to be the weapon was recovered.

Family and obituary notices identified Williams as a young mother from Woodville with ties to Livingston. Coverage at the time reported her two young children were in the car when the gun went off; her mother publicly mourned her loss. Police said Drayton initially told investigators the shooting was accidental, claiming the gun discharged as he tried to place it between the car’s seats. He was taken into custody and arraigned on a manslaughter charge in Jasper County, with bond set at $500,000, and police described the investigation as active. No additional suspects have been announced.

If anyone saw the area of West Gibson and Main streets in Jasper around late May 27, 2025, or has information about the vehicle or the people involved, please come forward.