A promising teenage athlete known for her talent on the basketball court and her vibrant personality is being mourned after she was fatally shot inside her family home in Ferguson, in a case police say stemmed from domestic violence.
Fifteen-year-old Ha’layna Elliot — described by teammates as a standout player and natural leader — was found dead Saturday evening, Feb. 21, 2026, alongside her father, retired fire chief Henry Williams.
Authorities have charged Williams’ live-in girlfriend, 61-year-old Linda Hayden, with two counts of first-degree murder.
A Young Athlete With Big Dreams
Ha’layna, a sophomore at Pattonville High School, had already built a strong reputation as a rising basketball talent. Friends and teammates say she stood out not only for her skill but also for her positive energy.
“Every time she shot the ball, we all watched — and it went in every time,” teammate Jael Williams recalled, describing her as a player who inspired confidence on and off the court.
Coached for years by her father, Ha’layna had been playing competitively since middle school, developing into one of the most promising young athletes in her community.
Tragic Discovery
According to court records, family members who had arranged to meet Henry Williams at his home arrived to a devastating scene.
Williams, 63, was found in the kitchen with a gunshot wound to the back of his head. Ha’layna was discovered in her bedroom with a fatal gunshot wound to her forehead.
Police later located Hayden barricaded inside the master bedroom, where officers recovered a .38-caliber revolver containing spent and live rounds.
Investigators said Hayden allegedly made spontaneous remarks suggesting she believed herself to be “the villain in the story.”
Community in Shock
Authorities say the case is being treated as a domestic-violence incident and there is no ongoing threat to the public. A judge has set Hayden’s bond at $2 million cash-only.
The tragedy has shaken friends, classmates, and community members, many of whom say Ha’layna’s life was filled with promise.
Her teammate described her as someone whose presence uplifted those around her.
“She was always full of energy,” Jael said. “She made everyone want to be better.”
Family friends also paid tribute to her father, who spent decades serving as a firefighter and later volunteered as a youth basketball coach.
If convicted, Hayden faces the possibility of life in prison without parole or the death penalty.
