What we know about Amber Tsai and Collin Davis, victims in Haltom City, Texas, shooting
Amber Tsai, the 32-year-old woman shot and killed by gunman Edward Freyman in Haltom City on Saturday, “will always be remembered for her humble heart and for making friends everywhere she went,” her sister Abigail wrote on a GoFundMe page.
Amber Tsai grew up in Queens County, New York, and graduated with a Master’s in Arts from Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, New York, according to LinkedIn and social media accounts.
Tsai was killed when Freyman, armed with a handgun and rifle, began shooting at her house in the 5700 block of Diamond Oaks Drive North in Haltom City around 6:45 p.m., according to Haltom City police. She was found dead inside her home, police said.
Freyman also killed Tsai’s friend Collin Davis, 33, who was found next to his motorcycle in the driveway, and shot and wounded three police officers and an elderly neighbor, and then ran from police before killing himself about a half mile from the original scene, authorities said.
Collin Davis
Tsai and Davis were “great friends,” her sister told the Dallas Morning News.
A GoFundMe for Davis’ funeral expenses started by his cousin Melody Hallmark says he was “senselessly killed July 2nd in the Haltom City mass shooting” when he went to Tsai’s house expecting “to have a small hang with his long time gal pal.”
The page had raised $2,775 toward a $10,000 goal as of Tuesday night.
“His mother and our WHOLE family are devastated by this tragedy,” Hallmark wrote.
“My aunt is SHATTERED,” she added, noting that Davis’ mother lost her youngest son six months ago to diabetic ketoacidosis.
Hallmark told KTVT-TV that Collin Davis was her first best friend.
“When you walked into the room, everyone wanted to hang out with him, wanted to know more about him, wanted to be his friend. I’ve never met anyone who didn’t like Collin,” she said.
Honoring Amber Tsai
Donations to Tsai’s GoFundMe will go to funeral expenses “and to honor Amber as we say our last goodbyes,” the GoFundMe page reads.
“Words cannot describe the pain and loss we feel,” the fundraising post says. “We will miss you so much every day. We appreciate your support as we navigate through this heartbreaking time.”
The page had raised more than $28,000, surpassing its $15,000 goal as of Tuesday night.
Abigail Tsai told the Dallas Morning News in an email that, “I want others to know Amber was so kind, smart, and loved by so many. She literally made friends everywhere she went because she just got along with everyone.”
Samira Esquina, a friend of Amber Tsai, said she was “a beautiful soul” who loved her dog Zelda, could always make anybody smile and worked hard to achieve her goals.
“She was kind, selfless and compassionate,” Esquina told the Star-Telegram in an email. “Always there to lend an ear or hug. ... Amber was unconditional. She deserved better.”
“An entire community is devastated at hearing about Amber’s loss,” she added.
A friend of Amber’s, Amanda Cree, wrote in a public Facebook post that, “I can’t find the words you deserve. I can say I love you and how deeply I will miss you. You will always be an infectiously joyous spirit. Your charisma, extroversion, spunk and eagerness to make everyone around you feel safe, welcomed and included. I love you Amber Tsai and this planet lost one of the best humans. My heart goes out to your family and the community we built is grieving heavily.”
Jay Zhang, a friend who said he attended high school with Amber, wrote in a Facebook post, “Her life was tragically taken all too soon. She was such a light in everyone’s lives, someone who had one of the most infectious laughs. She was KIND and NICE, when the world was CRUEL and UNFORGIVING. She made friends WHEREVER she went.”
According to property records, Tsai bought the home on Diamond Oaks Drive in Haltom City in December 2020. She started working for ThriveDX, a cybersecurity and digital skills trade school based out of Miami, Florida, a month before she moved, according to her LinkedIn.
She was a senior admissions adviser at ThriveDX, according to LinkedIn.
Neighbors say gunman lived with victim
Police said Freyman, 28, knew Tsai and Davis but did not disclose the nature of their relationship. Neighbors said Freyman was Tsai’s boyfriend and had been living at her house before the shooting.
Not much is known yet about Freyman, though officials confirmed Monday that he served in the U.S. Army and Texas National Guard from 2014-2021. He does not appear to have a criminal record in Tarrant County, according to court records.
According to Army public affairs, Freyman was enlisted as an infantryman in the U.S. Army from October 2014 to October 2019 and attained the noncommissioned rank of sergeant.
In October 2019, after he left the Army, Freyman joined the Texas Army National Guard, according to Army public affairs. He served as a sergeant infantryman until March 2021. The Texas Military Department said Freyman was honorably discharged from the National Guard after completing his term.
Army public affairs said Freyman never had any deployments with either the U.S. Army or Texas Army National Guard.
Freyman’s LinkedIn account says he attended Haltom High School and public records indicate he previously lived in far north Fort Worth.
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This story was originally published July 3, 2022 at 6:31 PM.