Kyle Yorlets, a 24-year-old man from Nashville, was shot and killed outside his home on Thursday. The culprits, police later found, were five children, aged 12 to 16.
Yorlets, the lead singer of rock band Carverton, gave them his wallet, but was shot after he refused to give them his car keys. The five children were driving in a stolen pickup truck in the alley behind his home in the Clifton neighbourhood when they spotted the musician.
The victim reportedly made it back inside his house where a housemate found him. He was then taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.
On Thursday evening, the police traced the stolen vehicle to a Walmart in West Nashville, where they were all arrested. One had a stolen loaded 9 mm pistol, and a second stolen gun was also found. The Nashville Police have now charged the group - made of three girls and two boys, ages 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 -as juveniles with criminal homicide.
Following the shocking death, the singer's fellow bandmates from Carverton released a statement. On Facebook, they posted a photo of the band and of Yorlet, and wrote:
"On February 7, 2019 we lost our brother, best friend, and bandmate Kyle Yorlets. We are in a state of shock and are having to grasp the reality that is now in front of us. We are heartbroken. Our condolences for his family and loved ones and all the lives that he touched. We will never forget Kyle, and though he is gone too soon his legacy is here to stay."
"Such a senseless tragedy. My heart goes out to his family, friends and bandmates," one user commented, while another added: "Praying for you all. So heartbreaking. His voice was truly a gift! He was a wonderful friend to my son and for that I will truly be grateful. Praying for his family and friends."
The band also shared a GoFundMe campaign to their Facebook page, which has been set up to support Kyle's family. The description of the campaign, which is currently $25,000 of the way to their $30,000 goal, reads:
"His family are dairy farmers in Pennsylvania, a life-giving vocation that requires constant care and attention.
"We can't even begin to imagine having to deal with the grief and pain of losing a son and then having to handle the arrangements of travel, transport, and the hundreds of decisions and interactions required by something like this all the while having to arrange for the upkeep of a farm that needs full hands-on work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week."
The funds are said to go towards the family's expenses, involving the transport and funeral costs, as well as financial aid for hiring help at the farm. Any funds left over from the GoFundMe page will be redirected towards scholarship opportunities, arrange by the family in his honour.
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