Close shave: Comedian Rickey Smiley's teen daughter shot three times in Texas traffic light, safe after surgery
HOUSTON, TEXAS: Comedian Rickey Smiley’s daughter is reportedly out of danger after she was shot multiple times. The 51-year-old shared on Monday, July 6, during his morning radio show that his daughter Aaryn had been admitted to the hospital after the incident. The 19-year-old was hit at a traffic light around 8.45 pm on Sunday, July 5, when she went to get food at a Whataburger.
"I wasn’t even going to say anything about this. I’ve been dealing with this all morning, sitting up here with butterflies in my stomach trying to do the show. My youngest daughter was shot last night. She’s in the hospital right now," Smiley said on the ‘Rickey Smiley Morning Show’. “I'm just so angry right now. She's crying. She's scared,” the comedian said of his teenage daughter.
The Houston Police Department said in a press release that four people — a woman and three men — were struck during a shooting at 6898 South Freeway (State Highway 288) service road on Sunday night. However, all the victims suffered non-life-threatening injuries. "The three men were in a vehicle at a stoplight at the above address when an unknown vehicle passed them. The occupant(s) of the vehicle began shooting multiple times, wounding the three men. A female passenger in an unrelated vehicle was also struck. At this time, there is no known suspect," the statement from police read.
"I'm grateful. I'm more than grateful that my daughter is alive,” Smiley later said in an Instagram video. He also shared a post on his social media account writing: “My daughter made it out of her operation. She’s doing great!! Thank you for your prayers!!!”
After her successful operation, Smiley’s daughter also took to her Instagram story to share her horrifying experience. In the story, she shared a picture of a blood-stained passenger seat as she wrote: “This is the most terrifying thing that has ever happened to me. I won't be out of the hospital for a while nor will I be able to walk for a while due to nerve damage."
The teenager also shared pictures of her hospital bed and wrote: “[T]he fact that the bullets that went thru my legs were armored riffled [sic] bullets made to go through anything (how they got through the car) but the one [that] would have hit me in the head was not that kind and ended up lodged in the car. God. Words can't describe how grateful I am to be alive right now.” She added: “Scariest part of all of this is the fact that I’m alone. they won't let me see my parents or anyone come in because of covid. I'm terrified.”
On July 6 night, Smiley said in his Instagram story that he has arrived in Houston, but could not see his daughter because of the Covid-19 restrictions. “It’s getting dark and I’m not leaving this park until I lay eyes on her. Thanks to the @HoustonPolice for being so awesome and kind to us,” he said.