A Houston mother is mourning the loss of her 14-year-old daughter, Azyria Bankhead, who was killed in a shooting at a teen pop-up club late Saturday night.
Azyria Bankhead and a 16-year-old boy lost their lives, while four other teens were injured in the incident.
The shooting happened around 11:30 p.m. inside a building off Jensen Road, where police say gunfire erupted during an event advertised as a teen club.
The club, known as “The Curfew LLC,” has marketed itself as the “Hottest teen club in Houston” on Instagram but also operates as an adult after-hours venue with BYOB for an additional fee, according to its Google listing.
BACKGROUND: 2 teens dead, 4 others hurt in mass shooting at ‘pop-up’ party in North Houston
Charlisa Jones, Azyria’s mother, stood with her sister, describing the nightmare of losing her daughter, who she says was a typical teenager who loved life and TikTok.
“One thing she loved to dance. She loved TikTok,” Jones said. “I used to fuss at her, ‘Get off TikTok.’ She’d say, ‘Mama, I’m almost done.’ She just loved life. She was a happy child.”
Jones revealed she had allowed Azyria to attend the club in the past, regularly checking in to ensure her safety. However, she was unaware that adults were permitted at the venue.
“If y’all are adults, go to adult clubs and let these babies enjoy life like they deserve to,” Jones said.
Witnesses reported seeing a tall, thin man dressed in all black, wearing a hooded sweatshirt and mask, shooting into the crowd. Police are still searching for the suspect and have not yet identified anyone responsible for the shooting.
Video posted on the club’s Instagram page about an hour before the shooting showed a large crowd inside. Jones expressed hope that the venue would be permanently shut down, citing safety concerns for teens.
“I hope they shut it down,” she said.
Authorities urge anyone with information to contact the Houston Police Department or Crime Stoppers.
As police investigate, Jones and her family are left grieving the loss of a bright, joyful teen who had her entire life ahead of her.
“Azyria loved life,” Jones said. “She was happy. She didn’t deserve this.”