Crime
Kayelyn Ford Fatally Shot by Ex-Boyfriend Moments After Deputies Leave Her Apartment in East Baton Rouge
EAST BATON ROUGE, La. — A 22-year-old woman was shot and killed by her ex-boyfriend just minutes after sheriff’s deputies had left her home early Monday morning, authorities confirmed.
According to the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, the victim, identified as Kayelyn Ford, was killed around 3:15 a.m. on May 19 outside her apartment in the 9800 block of Hooper Road.
Prior to the shooting, Ford had called law enforcement at approximately 3 a.m. to report that her ex-boyfriend, 24-year-old Brandon Bell, was attempting to enter her apartment using an old key.
Deputies responded to the call, searched the premises, and, finding no immediate threat or sign of Bell, left the scene.
Tragically, shortly after their departure, Bell allegedly ambushed Ford and fatally shot her outside the residence.
Following the shooting, Bell reportedly turned the gun on himself. He was transported to a local hospital in critical condition.
As of the latest update from the sheriff’s office, he is not expected to survive.
Court records reveal that Bell had a history of domestic violence. In April, he was arrested and charged with domestic abuse battery.
According to an affidavit filed by a Baton Rouge Police Department officer at the time, Bell became violent during an argument after being asked to leave an apartment.
The victim, who was not named in the affidavit, reported that Bell initiated the physical altercation.
Bell was later granted a $1,000 bond, and a protective order was issued barring him from coming within 100 yards of Ford.
The sheriff’s office has not yet released further details regarding the incident. The case remains under investigation.
Crime
Tyler Maxon Avalos arrested for posting TikTok video offering $45,000 reward for the death of AG Pam Bondi
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Federal authorities have arrested a 29-year-old man accused of using TikTok to solicit violence against former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, offering a cash reward for her death.
The suspect, identified as Tyler Maxon Avalos, was taken into custody on October 16 following an FBI investigation into an alleged murder-for-hire plot circulated on social media.
According to court documents, agents were tipped off earlier this month after Avalos allegedly posted a TikTok video featuring an image of Attorney General Bondi with a red sniper-scope dot positioned on her forehead.
The video’s caption reportedly read:
“WANTED: Pam Bondi”
“REWARD: $45,000”
“DEAD OR ALIVE”
“(PREFERABLY DEAD)”
Beneath the image, Avalos allegedly added a cryptic message: “Cough cough. When they don’t serve us, then what?”
Authorities say Avalos, who used the online alias “Wacko”, maintained an account laced with anarchist symbols and anti-government rhetoric.
His TikTok bio reportedly linked to a digital copy of “An Anarchist FAQ”, a document frequently cited in online extremist circles.
Federal investigators noted that Avalos has a significant criminal history, spanning several states.
His prior convictions include:
- Felony stalking (Dakota County, Minnesota – July 2022)
- Felony third-degree domestic battery (Polk County, Florida – July 2022)
- Misdemeanor domestic assault (Dakota County, Minnesota – April 2016), a charge reportedly reduced from felony domestic assault by strangulation.
The FBI confirmed that Avalos was apprehended without incident and is being held pending further federal charges.
Court filings allege that Avalos’s actions constituted a credible threat of violence and were part of a deliberate attempt to incite harm against a public official.
Investigators are currently reviewing his online activity to determine whether others were involved or aware of the plot.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office stated that Avalos could face federal charges related to threats against public officials, solicitation to commit murder, and interstate transmission of threatening communications.
Officials emphasized that the swift intervention of a concerned citizen helped prevent potential violence.
“Public safety depends on vigilance,” an FBI spokesperson said. “We urge anyone who encounters threats of this nature online to report them immediately.”