Several Deadly Thanksgiving Weekend Shootings in Amarillo

Crime did not take a holiday this past Thanksgiving Day weekend in Amarillo. From 7 people being shot and wounded at an after hours club, to multiple homicides, it was a busy weekend for law enforcement officials.

Friday, November 29, 2019

Amarillo Police are investigating after seven people were shot at Hogg Penn club early Friday morning. According to police, at about 2:45 a.m., officers were sent to the Hogg Penn after hours club at 2650 Dumas Drive for a shooting. Officers found a 41-year-old female at the club suffering from a gunshot wound to the upper body. She was taken to a local hospital with possible life-threatening injuries. Officers found several shell casings in the club but were unable to get a description of the shooter. While investigating the scene, it was discovered that six more victims were taken to local hospitals by private rides. In all, four females, ages 41, 19, 35 and 22, and three males, ages 34, 40, and 27, were identified as victims of the shooting. Amarillo Police are asking for the public's help in finding information about the incident. At the time of this posting, there have been no fatalities reported from this incident.

In an unrelated event, Amarillo Police officers were dispatched to 7807 Pineridge Drive on a welfare check. The caller said that a woman was possibly dead inside. Through a window, officers could see a person lying inside of the home. Due to the circumstances, they entered, and the woman was found to be deceased. She was identified as 69-year-old Karen June Nicholas. The Amarillo Police Department Homicide Unit and CSI responded to the scene and found that Nicholas did not die of natural causes. The suspect in her death was identified as Christopher Lee Nicholas, her 29-year-old grandson. An arrest warrant was obtained for Christopher Nicholas and it was determined that he had traveled to Missouri. When officers in Missouri located Christopher, he was dead from an apparent self inflicted gunshot wound. The investigation into this incident is ongoing. Justice of the Peace Byrd responded to the scene and an autopsy was ordered.

Sunday, December 1, 2019

On Sunday morning at 12:30 AM, Amarillo police officers were dispatched to 1313 Evergreen on a shooting. A 16 year old male was found dead inside the home from a single gunshot wound. Another male, believed to be the suspect, was taken into custody. The Amarillo Police Homicide Unit has identified the suspect in Sunday's shooting death as 17-year-old Maung Khin. He was arrested for manslaughter and booked into the Potter County jail. The case is still under investigation by the Homicide Unit. Potter County Justice of the peace Taylor has ordered an autopsy.