A Texas mother said she is “overwhelmed” after she tragically lost her two children to gun violence just days apart. According to CBS News, Brittney Ross’ 14-year-old son Ah’Bralen Rider was initially gunned down before the new year.
But her family’s grief was exacerbated on January 10 after Ross’ 6-year-old daughter, Ah’Laynah Modica-Ross, died under similar circumstances. Ross learned about the shooting while she was dressing her deceased 14-year-old son for his burial.
In the wake of Ah’Laynah’s killing, police said a friend of the deceased minor’s older brother had brought loaded guns to the family’s Dallas home. Authorities also said Ah’Laynah found one of the weapons.
“It’s a nightmare… we’re living a nightmare right now,” the deceased minor’s grandfather, Michael Key, said. “And it’s hurting me real bad.”
Key also said he “didn’t know there was a gun in this house” and “that’s what I’m so upset about right now.” “If there was a gun in this house, the gun should have been put in a safe location where she couldn’t have reached it or got ahold of it… Very upset about that, and I’m just hurt” he added.
Ross was preparing for her 14-year-old son’s funeral when she learned about her daughter’s killing. The funeral was ultimately postponed to make way for a double service. “Overwhelmed,” Ross said. “I… just… I don’t know.”
Authorities identified the individual who brought the gun to the home as 19-year-old Damariya Sowels. He has since been arrested and charged in connection with the 6-year-old’s death.
Ross’ 14-year-old son Ah’Bralen was at a friend’s apartment when he was shot and killed. Authorities ultimately arrested and charged a teen in connection with his killing. The grieving mother in a previous interview with CBS News described her deceased son as a “quiet” person. “When you see him, he was always smiling, he wasn’t a troubled kid,” she added.
Although Sowel is facing a charge of tampering with evidence in her daughter’s death, Ross said there’s no way the teen, whom she has known for a decade, would want to harm her children. Ross also said Sowels had the guns for protection as the teen and her surviving son were being threatened in the wake of Ah’Bralen’s killing.
Ah’Laynah’s death is currently being investigated by authorities. But her family and neighbors said the 6-year-old died after she accidentally shot herself, The Dallas Express reported.
