Road Rage Altercation Leads to Death of 11-Year-Old Boy — Details

An everyday school drop-off became a family's worst nightmare on Friday morning when an 11-year-old boy was shot in a road-rage shooting that investigators say could have been prevented.

Brandon Dominguez-Chavarria was struck in the head by a single bullet as he sat in the backseat of his stepfather's SUV just after 7:30 a.m. on November 14, 2025.

A Morning Commute Turns Deadly

The tragedy began on the westbound 215 near Gibson Road, where 22-year-old Tyler Johns, driving a blue Hyundai Elantra, allegedly became embroiled in a tense exchange with Valente Ayala, Brandon's stepfather, behind the wheel of a black Chevrolet Traverse.

According to a detective with the Henderson Police Department, Tyler admitted to officers that he had fired the fatal shot — though he insisted he hadn't known a child was in the car.

The detective added that after Tyler admitted to firing the gun, he slowly turned his back to the officers and settled his hands behind him without being told to do so.

Harrowing Aftermath Captured on Camera

Newly shared body-cam video pulls back the curtain on the devastating moments that followed. In the footage, Valente can be heard telling officers:

"My kid is dead."

Tyler is also shown speaking with police, "I shot at him, I didn't know there was a kid in the back," and again, "It's 100% my fault, I shot at him. I didn't know that he had a kid in the car."

Brandon was seated in the back of Valente's vehicle, on his way to school, when the bullet struck him. Two eyewitnesses told police they opened the SUV's back door and found the boy "slumped over" and bleeding profusely. Brandon was then rushed to University Medical Center, where doctors pronounced him dead.

Eyewitnesses Describe Escalating Aggression

Authorities said the altercation began as both vehicles maneuvered through congested traffic. A witness, Edward Mack, told police, "It seemed like the driver of the black Chevy was angrier and the aggressor." Both drivers allegedly rolled down their windows and began arguing when Tyler pulled out a handgun and fired once.

Valente responded by ramming Tyler's car, trying to prevent him from fleeing, police said. An on-duty Metro officer passing by stopped and took control of the scene.

The stepfather later told investigators that he believed Tyler had aimed for him — not the child — and stressed he was unarmed and did not own any firearms.

Police Reaction and Legal Outlook

The tragedy rocked both the local community and law enforcement. At a press briefing, Henderson Police Chief Reggie Rader outlined the department's understanding of the incident, saying:

"This child was on his way to school today, and lives have been changed dramatically."

Legal analysts, including former District Attorney David Roger, noted that the case may rest on the idea of transferred intent — the notion that a shooter can still be held fully liable even when the bullet hits someone they never meant to harm.

David also stressed that once a person chooses to fire without lawful justification, every consequence that follows becomes theirs to answer for.

Criminal defense attorney Frank Coumou suggested that Tyler might frame his actions as self-defense. According to Frank, the argument would likely center on the idea that Tyler perceived an immediate danger — that the stepfather's behavior and the way he handled the vehicle left Tyler convinced that using lethal force was the only way to protect himself.

Tyler's attorney declined to comment to the Review-Journal. A judge denied Tyler bail on Saturday.

A Grieving Mother and a Community in Mourning

In her emotional address to the court, Brandon's mother, Rubi Chavarria, made it clear that she wanted Tyler to stay in custody. She spoke from the raw place only a grieving mother knows, stressing that no punishment could ever balance the reality that her son is gone forever.

Rubi described the shooting as an act driven by anger rather than fear, emphasizing that there was nothing her son did that justified being met with gunfire — and nothing that could excuse such a reaction. According to her, that morning was supposed to be nothing more than a routine rush to get him to school on time.

"He was just trying to make it to school on time that morning. That's all he was doing, if you guys would've saw [sic] his backpack, he had his lunch bag ready," she said. "This could be avoided. This shouldn't happen to any more families. Because I don't want anybody else to feel the way we’re feeling. To get a phone call saying that your son got shot."

A GoFundMe page created by Victor Ayala and Sonia Chavarria paints a picture of Brandon as a bright, energetic child whose playful spirit and kindness left a lasting impression on everyone around him. The fundraiser adds that Brandon loved soccer, Roblox, TikTok dances, and woke up every day excited to go to school.

The fundraiser explained that the money is meant to ease the burden on Brandon's mother, as she navigates a kind of grief no parent is ever prepared for. It underscores that the effort is simply about surrounding her with support while she mourns her son.

By November 24, 2025, the campaign had raised more than $40,000 to support Rubi as she grieves the unthinkable loss of her son.

Following his arrest, Tyler refused to answer further questions and requested a lawyer. His next court appearance is set for December 4, 2025, when the case will continue moving through the judicial process. As the legal process unfolds, Brandon's family continues to push for justice and hopes his story serves as a warning — and a plea.

Brandon's family is now left piecing together a life permanently altered, trying to carry forward a love that no longer has a place to land. What lies ahead for them is not about statements or court deadlines, but the quiet work of learning to live with an absence that should never have existed.