In the early hours of May 13, 2023, 39-year-old Kendael Latrail "Chimmey" Ford was found deceased from an apparent gunshot wound at the Dayton Park Apartments in Dayton, Texas. Law enforcement responded to the scene around 3 a.m. and immediately began an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
By the following day, authorities had identified 18-year-old Dayton resident Kenbriq Rashaun Ty Hubert as a suspect in the shooting.
An arrest warrant was issued, and Hubert subsequently turned himself in to law enforcement. He was booked into the Liberty County Jail on murder charges, with bond set at $1 million.
The investigation into the events leading up to the shooting continued as authorities conducted interviews with witnesses and gathered evidence to understand the motive and circumstances of the crime. As of the latest available information, no further details have been released regarding the progress of the investigation or any additional arrests related to the case.
Kendael Ford was remembered by family and friends as "the life of the party" and someone who was deeply loved by those who knew him. He was a member of Turkey Creek Missionary Baptist Church in Liberty, Texas, where his funeral services were held on May 27, 2023. He is survived by his parents, Lisa Ford and Chester Smith Jr.; his siblings, Christopher Ford, Jason Wickliff, and Sherylmina Ford; and his children, Kendra, Kaliah, Noah, Nessiah, Kendael Jr., Raven, and Kaleb.
