Kansas City Chiefs defensive end BJ Thompson is mourning the death of his ‘lil sis’ after a fatal mass shooting in his native Arkansas on Sunday.
Two people were killed and nine injured during the horrific shooting at a park in Conway, Arkansas, which is about 28 miles northwest of Little Rock. Conway police said nine victims were hospitalized but are now in stable condition.
Details about the shooting haven’t been revealed publicly and one officer declined to identify the victims when contacted by DailyMail.com on Monday evening.
But on social media, where mourners continue to grieve Sunday’s shooting, one victim has been named: Tatayana Penister.
‘You ain’t deserve [this s***],’ Thompson wrote on Instagram, while using Penister’s handle. ‘[Motherf***ers] love playin widd guns and actin like gansta but be crash outs and broke. My lil sis was sweet, innocent, and had her whole life ahead of her. [I know] it ain’t my fault but I cant (sic) help but say ”Im (sic) sorry”. This world ain’t deserve you lil baby. Watch over me as I ball out for you.’
Penister was not Thompson’s biological sister, but rather a close personal friend he grew up with, as his agent, Chris Turnage, told DailyMail.com.
On Instagram, Chiefs defensive end BJ Thompson bid farewell to his ‘lil sis’ Tatayana Penister
Thompson posted pictures of himself alongside Penister on social media Monday
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Many others had similar reactions on Penister’s Instagram page.
‘I am sickkkkk,’ one friend wrote. ‘I’m sick Tati I keep replaying all of our memories in my head. I’m so grateful I met you baby. My first ever realest best friend I can’t believe this.’
‘We just seen you Tati.. We just did and now you’re gone. You were actually like a big sister to me for me, we all grew up together and everythang,’ another added on Facebook.
There was also considerable rage among locals, who are now fearful of going to their local park in Conway.
‘No one should drive to the park to have fun, and leave in a body bag because these young idiots wanna wave pistols and start a shootout with kids in the park,’ one person wrote on Facebook. ‘Guess what, they’re gonna find you with all the video footage out there. Just shooting blind not caring who you hit.’
Anyone with information about the shooting is encouraged to call investigators at 501-450-6130.
It’s not quite clear if Thompson and Penister are siblings or if he was writing colloquially
The deputy coroner arrives on the scene of a shooting Sunday, April 13 in Conway, Arkansas
Thompson recently turned 26, which was a considerable milestone considering he nearly died in a life-threatening incident last summer.
In June 2024, the defensive lineman was hospitalized after experiencing a seizure during a team meeting and went into cardiac arrest.
Thompson, a fifth-round draft pick out of Stephen F. Austin in 2023, was in the meeting room before the Chiefs were scheduled to have their final voluntary workout of the offseason.
He began to have a seizure and kicker Harrison Butker immediately ran to the trainer’s room and summoned medical staff. Thompson was then placed on a ventilator and heavily sedated before ultimately making a full recovery.
He posted three pictures on his birthday on Monday, alongside the caption: ‘Almost lost my life at 25… Still blessed to see 26’.
Thompson sat out the 2024 season following the seizure. Previously he was a member of the Chiefs team that won Super Bowl LVIII over the San Francisco 49ers.