University of Southern California women’s basketball recruit Aaliyah Gayles was shot multiple times at a house party in Las Vegas late Saturday night, according to multiple reports. Gayles, 18, is a senior at Spring Valley High School. She underwent two emergency surgeries Sunday morning, according to sources close to the situation. A man reportedly from her father, Donald Gayles, took to Twitter in the aftermath.
“I know there is some that will say it’s my fault and I take full responsibility for it but please please keep my baby girl in your prayers Las Vegas,” an account registered to D.Gayles tweeted. “I will give everyone that support Aaliyah an update but she’s ok she go make it like always thank you all.”
https://twitter.com/DGayles3/status/1515828086763184133?s=20&t=Rtlm1UsBJytNnsU7BmUiIg
An argument reportedly broke out at a north Las Vegas home on Saturday night in the 4900 block of Support Street, near Lone Mountain Road and Simmons Street, according to police. Gunshots were fired at about 11:15 p.m. Four people, including two minors, suffered gunshot wounds.
The Las Vegas shooting was another in a weekend of gun violence that rocked the nation.
Authorities in South Carolina are investigating a shooting at a nightclub in Charleston early Sunday that wounded at least nine people. This followed a shooting in a mall in Columbia hours earlier in the day on Saturday. In Pittsburgh, two minors were killed early Sunday during a shooting that left at least 31 people wounded.
Gayles, a point guard, is the No. 8 recruit in the class of 2022, according to ESPN HoopGurlz rankings, and recently played in the McDonald’s All American Game and Jordan Brand Classic.
Another tweet from @DGayles3 in the aftermath of the shooting was posted.
“I love you 3 just come back home to me baby girl I got you I promise.”
I love you 3 just come back home to me baby girl I got you I promise 🤞🏾💔 pic.twitter.com/MMoL4vUdvw
— D.Gayles (@DGayles3) April 18, 2022
No arrests have been made in connection to the shooting, and police say an investigation is ongoing. According to Gun Violence Archive, there have been 144 mass shootings in the United States in 2022. A reported 10,157 people have been injured; 202 of those injured are between the ages of 0-11 and 930 are between the ages of 12-17.
Gayles had decommitted from USC following the retirement of former coach Mark Trakh before recommitting to the Trojans under coach Lindsay Gottlieb last August.
“Aaliyah is one of the strongest, most resilient young people I have ever known,” Gottlieb said in a statement to ESPN on Sunday night. “I have no doubt she will continue to face this unfathomable situation with courage and resolve. We will continue to support her and her parents in every way that we possibly can.”
If the gunshot wounds are not serious and there are no complications from surgery, Gayles should make a healthy recovery and be able to play again. Right now, it’s wait and see.
A GoFundMe page was set up for Aaliyah Graves and her family by someone named Sally Blair. The stated goal is $10,000 and organizers were more than halfway there within about 12 hours.
