Nine people were shot, one fatally, early Sunday morning outside a nightclub on Polk Street in Amarillo, Texas. The shooting took place around 2 a.m. and appears to have been sparked by an earlier altercation inside the bar, according to police.
Authorities identified the alleged gunman as 23-year-old Robert Kenney Knox. Police say Knox had been involved in the altercation, left the nightclub, and later returned in a vehicle. Exiting the car, Knox allegedly opened fire on the crowd outside the establishment. After the shooting, Knox reportedly got back into the vehicle, which fled the scene.
A witness who saw the incident followed the fleeing vehicle and contacted authorities, providing critical details about its location. Police tracked the vehicle and arrested three occupants. Knox and the driver, 21-year-old Nahryah Hilesta Ines Hayes, were each charged with one count of murder and eight counts of deadly conduct for discharging a firearm. A third occupant, 22-year-old Britt Brinson Cave, was charged with public intoxication.
Amarillo Police confirmed that one of the shooting victims died from their injuries, while the other eight individuals suffered various degrees of gunshot wounds. Authorities have not yet released the names of the victims.
The department’s Homicide Unit is actively investigating the case and is asking for assistance from the public. They have encouraged anyone with video footage or additional information related to the incident to contact the Amarillo Police Department Homicide Unit at 806-378-9468.
This shooting highlights ongoing concerns about public safety in nightlife areas and the impact of escalating altercations. The quick actions of the witness who followed the vehicle and contacted police were instrumental in the arrests. Amarillo law enforcement continues to urge residents to provide any evidence or information that could aid in their investigation.
