LUBBOCK, Texas — In the early hours of Sunday morning, a gathering meant for fun spiraled into heartbreak. Just after midnight, Lubbock police received complaints about noise at a home on 76th Street in southwest Lubbock. By 12:44 a.m., officers were called back — this time for reports of gunfire.
When officers returned, they discovered 20-year-old Deon Lilly suffering from a gunshot wound. He was rushed by ambulance to University Medical Center, but later succumbed to his injuries. In a separate arrival, 18-year-old Adysen Gardner was brought to the same hospital in a private car — injured by gunfire as well. A minor also sustained arm lacerations and was treated at Covenant Medical Center.
The Lubbock Metropolitan Special Crimes Unit has taken charge of the investigation. So far, no arrests have been made and police have not named any suspects. Authorities are urging anyone with knowledge of the shooting to step forward and share what they know.
The night started like many others: house party, music, laughter. But something changed. As people gathered, tensions — unseen by many — may have simmered. Within hours, tragedy struck. Deon Lilly, a young man with life ahead of him, lost more than his plans for the night — he lost everything.
Gardner’s arrival to the hospital under his own power suggests he was conscious or able to move after being shot. The minor with arm wounds paints a fuller picture: this wasn’t an isolated incident but a volley of violence touching multiple people.
Investigators are likely sorting through security camera footage, phone records, and witness accounts. In a case like this, nearby homes, vehicles entering or leaving the area, even social media posts might hold clues. The Special Crimes Unit will be working to reconstruct the final moments before the shots rang out.
For now, the silence is heavier than ever. No names, no motives, no answers. Just grief and unanswered questions in Lubbock’s quiet early Sunday. If you were in that area — heard anything, saw anyone fleeing, saw a strange car — you’re being asked: please speak up. Lives depend on what we know next.