Florida ‘Cowards’ Fired 25 Shots Into Sesame Street-Themed Birthday Party, Killing 3-Year-Old Boy in Drive-By Shooting, Police Say
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – A Sesame Street-themed birthday party turned into a scene of horror after gunmen sprayed more than 20 rounds into a Florida park, killing a 3-year-old boy who was struck by a stray bullet, police announced.
Drive-By Shooting Leaves Toddler Dead
The shooting happened around 4:30 p.m. in July 2024 at Riverland Park in Fort Lauderdale. Police say the suspects unleashed a barrage of bullets aimed at a man they had a “beef” with, but the gunfire instead struck 3-year-old Rylo Yancy, who died instantly after being hit in the head.
Investigators identified two vehicles used in the attack — a 2022 red Mercedes Benz and a 2017 black Mercedes Benz.
Five Suspects Arrested
Authorities announced they have now charged five people in connection with the killing:
- Andrew St. Louis – captured in Tennessee, charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and conspiracy to commit murder with a firearm
- Tommie Allen, 19, Antonio Carter, 20, and Tyler Hollins, 21 – facing the same charges
- Thaddeus Squire III – charged with accessory after the fact
Witnesses told investigators Squire admitted that Hollins, known as “Freak” or “T-Freak,” was the shooter from his car. A female witness also recalled Hollins waving a firearm and joking about shooting before the attack.
‘My Dogs Did That’
Court records reveal Squire later admitted in a phone call that the shooting was intentional but misdirected. “They were trying to get a person they had beef with, and it hit the baby instead of the person who they were trying to get,” a witness recalled him saying.
Family Devastated, Police Outraged
Rylo’s grandfather, Herrold Pough, told WPLG: “I can never heal, just when you think you are getting over it, the rain comes storming again.”
FLPD Sgt. Don Geiger condemned the suspects: “Because of the acts of these cowards right here, a baby is killed because they had a beef with someone else at the party and they couldn’t control their anger.”
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