Brynnlee Hampton was remembered as a “very athletic” girl who “loved playing volleyball”
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(1249x626:1251x628):format(webp)/Brynnlee-Hampton-010426-01-84875f24205649148cafdd73921bdf6b.jpg)
A Texas high school student was shot and killed just after ringing in the new year.
In the early hours of New Year’s Day on Jan. 1, Brynnlee Hampton, a 15-year-old sophomore at Tascosa High School, was shot and killed in Amarillo, local outlet News Channel 10 reported. Her family and volleyball team have also confirmed her death on social media.
Hampton was leaving a party in a car with other teens, when one of them, who multiple witnesses told police was playing with a gun, shot her, News Channel 10 reported, citing court documents.
Jeremiah Luke Lajuan Matthews, 17, has since been charged with felony manslaughter, while another, Landrey Korde Matthews, also 17, faces a felony charge for allegedly attempting to conceal evidence. Landrey allegedly took the firearm from Jeremiah and threw it down the street following the incident, per News Channel 10.
The Amarillo Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on Sunday, Jan. 4.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(1022x443:1024x445):format(webp)/Brynnlee-Hampton-010426-04-543687760274457e9171cb4ed5caa002.jpg)
Eight juveniles were in the vehicle together — including Hampton, who was riding in the front — when Matthews allegedly waved the gun around and pointed it in some of the teen passengers’ faces, according to News Channel 10.
The firearm was then discharged, and when the driver pulled over, the group learned that Hampton had been struck by a bullet.
Police officers responded to the incident and found Hampton with a gunshot wound, News Channel 10 reported. She was rushed to a nearby hospital, but she was pronounced dead.
There was a single bullet hole and blood on the front passenger seat of the car, the outlet reported, citing police.
Landrey and Jeremiah were both booked into Potter County Detention Center on Jan. 1, according to jail records viewed by PEOPLE. It is unclear if there is any relation between the two or if they currently have legal representation to comment on their behalf.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(885x1007:887x1009):format(webp)/Brynnlee-Hampton-010426-03-d09ce038459741aca5e24fe6ea60c7da.jpg)
Jeremiah faces a second-degree felony manslaughter charge, while Landrey is charged with tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, a third-degree felony charge, jail records show. Their bails have been set at $500,000 and $250,000, respectively.
Tributes for Hampton have surfaced in the days following her sudden death. A GoFundMe created to raise funds for funeral expenses describes the late teen as a “very athletic” girl who “loved playing volleyball.”
“She had just been inducted into the National Honor Society. She loved her family dearly and, more importantly, she loved God,” the fundraiser continues.
“She had a strong and kind spirit that touched everyone who knew her,” an online obituary echoes of Hampton. “She was deeply loved and will be deeply missed.”
Hampton’s high school volleyball team also shared a tribute on Facebook.
“Our hearts are broken,” the team wrote in its post. “Our volleyball family is mourning the tragic loss of one of our own. Brynnlee was a light on and off the court. We hold her family, friends and teammates in our thoughts and prayers as we mourn together and honor her memory. ♥️🖤.”