The Mesquite Police Department has opened an investigation into the shooting death of a 16-year-old boy.
According to The Dallas Morning News, officers of the department were called to the scene in the 2800 block of Clay Mathis Road at approximately 7 p.m. on January 22.
Responding officers found the 16-year-old lying on the ground with a visible wound to the chest.
According to NBC 5 News, the Mesquite Police Department initially thought the shooting incident was a car accident.
Capt. Stephen Biggs with the Mesquite Police Department revealed that a witness had reported seeing someone fall out of a car at the scene.
“That’s still something we’re trying to figure out,” Capt. Biggs said, according to NBC 5 News. “We don’t know if he fell out of the vehicle or was pushed out. We don’t want to speculate at this time.”
However, according to The Dallas Morning News, investigators later determined the victim’s wound was from a gunshot.
According to NBC 5 News, investigators said the victim’s relatives identified him as Key’Mydre Palmer. Palmer was transported to a local hospital, where he died.
Shenika Palmer, Key’Mydre’s mother, said she had just returned from work with her son shortly before the incident, according to NBC 5 News. She added that Key’Mydre took a shower and left the house around 6 p.m. for what she thought would only be a few minutes.
“My kids said, ‘Mama, Mydre’s friend is outside again’ meaning, he’s a regular. That it’s someone Mydre knows, for him to come outside barefooted,” Shenika said.
Shenika described her son as a hardworking student who loved playing football and had dreams of playing the sport at the professional level someday. Key’Mydre is the oldest of Shenika’s five children and sophomore at Horn High School, according to NBC 5 News.
“I don’t know why they took my baby,” she said. “He took away my baby. He took away a big brother. He took away a cousin, nephew, grandson.”
Key’Mydre’s grandmother, Tonya Palmer, said the family is begging anyone with answers to come forward.
“Just turn yourself in. That’s what we want. Turn yourself in. If you know something, come forward please,” Tonya said.
Police have not identified any suspect in connection to the shooting death of Key’Mydre.