KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A 21-year-old woman from Lenexa, Kansas, has been taken into police custody in connection with the fatal drive-by shooting of 16-year-old Traelynn Sibley earlier this month in Kansas City. Authorities say Bailey Lewis faces multiple serious charges, including second-degree murder, three counts of accessory armed criminal action, and two counts of accessory unlawful use of a weapon, including shooting from a motor vehicle at a building.
According to police, the shooting occurred around 10 p.m. on Saturday, August 9, in the 3600 block of Norton Avenue. Traelynn was inside the home at a vanity helping another girl fix her hair when a barrage of bullets struck the residence. Struck by gunfire, Traelynn ran to a bathroom where she collapsed.
Officers arrived shortly thereafter and found Traelynn suffering from a gunshot wound. She was transported to a local hospital but succumbed to her injuries, leaving family, friends, and the community devastated.
Investigation Details
Court documents and police reports reveal the moments leading up to the shooting. At the time, Traelynn was inside the home with another female, two adult males, and a toddler. Investigators recovered numerous 9mm shell casings in the street outside, and the home had multiple bullet holes. A vehicle parked in the driveway also sustained damage.
Initial interviews with residents at the scene provided no suspect information, as no one witnessed the shooter directly. However, detectives were able to identify a gray 2025 Hyundai Elantra as the vehicle from which the shots were fired, using city traffic cameras. The cameras tracked the Hyundai to a convenience store on the 3900 block of E. 31st Street, where Lewis was captured on video entering the store wearing a full head and face mask. The store clerk asked her to pull the mask down, providing investigators with a potential identification.
Further interviews revealed connections between Lewis and people inside the home. One individual said they had previously been associated with Lewis but broke off ties due to her behavior. Another person disclosed a “falling out” with Lewis, claiming Lewis had let her get attacked at a gas station months before the deadly shooting. Investigators also noted that Lewis had recently posted about her Hyundai on social media, corroborating her presence in the vehicle that night.
Linking the Crime Scenes
Police also discovered that around 9:45 p.m. on August 9, officers had responded to a shots-fired call on the 6600 block of Monroe Avenue, where shell casings and building damage were documented. Surveillance video showed the Hyundai driving past the building twice, with gunfire occurring during the second pass. Ballistics testing later confirmed that shell casings recovered from both the Monroe Avenue incident and the Norton Avenue shooting were fired from the same weapon, linking Lewis to both crime scenes.
Arrest and Charges
Bailey Lewis was subsequently apprehended without incident. She is currently being held on multiple felony charges and faces a lengthy prison sentence if convicted. The investigation highlights the meticulous work of Kansas City police, utilizing surveillance, ballistics, and witness testimony to piece together the events leading to Traelynn Sibley’s tragic death.
Authorities are continuing to urge anyone with additional information about the case to contact homicide detectives directly at 816-234-5043 or anonymously through the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-8477.
The death of Traelynn Sibley has sent shockwaves through the Kansas City community, highlighting concerns over gun violence, drive-by shootings, and public safety in residential neighborhoods. The case also underscores the importance of coordinated investigative work and technology in bringing violent offenders to justice.
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