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TENNESSEE COLONY, TX — Heartbreak has swept through the small Anderson County community of Tennessee Colony after 20-year-old Kia-Patrick Roushelle Walker was shot and killed in a local parking lot early Friday morning — an act authorities say was carried out by her former boyfriend.

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Office reports that deputies responded to the scene after a passerby discovered Kia’s body and called 911. She was found unresponsive, the victim of a gunshot wound, and was pronounced dead on the scene despite frantic emergency efforts.

Within hours, investigators identified the suspect as 23-year-old Cyrus Johnson. Authorities allege Johnson confronted Kia in the parking lot in the early morning hours before shooting her and fleeing. He was later taken into custody without incident and is now charged with murder.

For those who knew Kia, the news is almost too much to bear. Friends remember her as warm, generous, and driven — a young woman whose smile lit up every room she entered. “She was so full of life, always pushing forward toward her dreams,” a close friend said through tears. “She didn’t deserve this. None of this makes sense.”

Kia’s death has sparked grief and outrage, with many in the community using her story to call for stronger protections against domestic violence. “This tragedy is a stark reminder that domestic violence kills,” an Anderson County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson said. “If you or someone you know feels unsafe, please reach out before it’s too late.”

Investigators continue to gather evidence, including surveillance footage and witness statements, to piece together the moments leading up to the shooting. An autopsy has been ordered, and funeral arrangements will be announced by her family in the coming days.

Now, Tennessee Colony faces the painful reality of life without Kia — a daughter, a friend, and a young woman with a future that will never be realized. In a matter of moments, her light was extinguished, leaving a darkness her loved ones will carry forever.