Teen Thrown from Car in Texas After Fatal Shooting: Four Charged with Murder
On January 22, 2022, Key’mydre Anderson, a 16-year-old from Mesquite, Texas, was fatally shot and thrown from a moving vehicle in a shocking incident that unfolded just a mile from his home.
Witnesses described seeing Anderson clinging to the car window before being hurled onto Clay Mathis Road. Despite their efforts to comfort him as he lay injured and exposed on the pavement, Anderson succumbed to his injuries after being rushed to a hospital.
A Robbery Gone Tragically Wrong
Initial reports suggested Anderson had been involved in a car accident, but a “puncture wound” to his chest revealed the horrifying truth. Investigators determined Anderson was shot during an attempted robbery and pushed out of the car over $250—the earnings from his after-school job as a cook at Sonic Drive-In.
Mesquite Police Department Captain Stephen Bigg confirmed Anderson was killed in a “failed robbery attempt,” although it remains unclear whether he was shot inside the vehicle.
A Promising Life Cut Short
Known as “Ears” to his loved ones, Anderson was a sophomore at John Horn High School. He was described as a diligent student who worked to support his single mother and five younger siblings.
On the day of the incident, he had finished a shift, bought groceries with his grandmother, and later entered a black Honda Civic to allegedly purchase a firearm.
Social Media and Surveillance Reveal Suspects
Authorities relied on doorbell footage and Anderson’s social media accounts to identify suspects. Evidence from TikTok and Instagram linked four individuals to the crime:
- Johnathan Pyle, 21, currently on trial for capital murder and facing life without parole if convicted.
- Simon Guillen, 18 at the time, also charged with capital murder.
- Crystal Guillen, 34, Simon’s mother, and an unnamed 15-year-old were likewise arrested and charged.
Detectives believe Pyle and Simon planned the robbery, while Crystal and the minor played roles yet to be fully explained.
Community Mourning and Outrage
The tragedy shook the local community. A makeshift memorial of teddy bears and flowers appeared at the site where Anderson was found, and a vigil at Cornerstone Baptist Church, near his home, drew friends and family. Mesquite Mayor Dan Aleman reflected on the loss, emphasizing the need for spiritual renewal in the city.
Anderson’s family expressed their devastation over his untimely death, laying him to rest on February 2, 2022, at a South Cedar Hill funeral home.
Seeking Justice
As Pyle’s trial continues, the community and Anderson’s family hope for justice. Meanwhile, the other defendants await court proceedings, leaving questions about the full extent of their involvement in this tragic crime.