‘Beautiful’: 6-year-old Haltom City shooting victim remembered for sweet spirit
Nathy Mbuyi is remembered for her sweet spirit and the love she freely gave to those around her, according to her family.
“Though she didn’t say much, her kindness, warmth, and pure heart spoke volumes,” family member Nathy Tshiteya wrote in a GoFundMe organized to help cover the 6-year-old’s funeral expenses. “She carried a softness and innocence that made her presence truly special.”
Nathy Mbuyi, a kindergarten student at Cheney Hills Elementary, was a victim in a double homicide and suicide on Friday. The 6-year-old and her mother, 33-year-old Raissa Thatukila, were fatally shot by Nathy’s father in a parking lot outside Birdville Stadium in Haltom City, police said. The suspect, John Mbuyi, then turned the gun on himself and died at the scene.
According to police, John Mbuyi had been involved in a custody dispute with Thatukila over their child, and the killings were “a premeditated and targeted attack.” Police also said the suspect had been “experiencing personal distress following the death of his father.”
John Mbuyi’s family members told KTVT-TV that they were shocked by what had happened. They weren’t aware of an ongoing dispute between the couple, and the 30-year-old Mbuyi adored his daughter, they said.
Friends of the victims and local residents have left stuffed animals and flowers near the scene of the shooting. Cheney Hills Principal Cheryl Waddell said in a letter to parents that the school community is devastated by Nathy’s death.
Over $1,300 toward a $6,500 goal had been raised through the GoFundMe as of Wednesday afternoon. All the funds will go toward Nathy’s funeral and burial expenses.
Tshiteya told the Star-Telegram that Nathy was named after her.
“The moments that I did have with her were so beautiful and her presence would light up a room,” Tshiteya said.
The family is asking for privacy as they process the tragedy.
