Oninda Romelus, of Porter, remains jailed in Brazoria County on two charges of murder and two charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
ANGLETON, Texas — Two children who survived a tragic shooting that left two siblings dead have been released from the hospital. Nine-year-old Kylee Romelius and 8-year-old Traviel Downer were flown by Life Flight to Memorial Hermann Hospital after they were shot on Saturday, October 4.
The siblings are now together in foster care after a judge granted temporary custody to Child Protective Services, according to Melissa Lanford, a spokesperson with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.
The children’s older brother, 13-year-old O’Karreo Covington, and younger sister, 3-year-old Amourra Chapell, were killed in the shooting. All four victims were found in their mother’s car after she called 911 from a gas station on SH 288 in Angleton.
Oninda Romelus, 31, of Porter, was arrested and charged with two counts of murder and two counts of aggravated assault. She remains in the Brazoria County Jail on bonds totaling $14 million.
Child Protective Services confirmed that Romelus has a history with them, but details are confidential.
We didn’t find any criminal record for Romelus in Texas. She had a 2022 conviction in Fayette County, Georgia, for driving under the influence of drugs.
What we know
- On October 4, 2025, Romelus, of Porter, drove to the Oasis gas station on SH 288 in Angleton and called 911. She later told investigators that she didn’t call 911, she “called the devil,” according to court documents.
- Brazoria County deputies rushed to the scene and found four children who’d been shot inside a vehicle. O’Karreo Covington, a 13-year-old boy, died from a gunshot to the head in the front passenger seat. Three-year-old Amourra Chapell died in the backseat. Nine-year-old Kylee Romelius was shot in the side and arm and 8-year-old Traviel Downer was shot in the arm. They were flown by Life Flight to Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston. Both children have been talking with BCSO investigators.
- Deputies questioned Romelus, who was outside her car, but she wasn’t making sense, according to court documents. They said she appeared alert and aware of her surroundings.
- Surveillance video and a receipt from the gas station show Romelus bought $56 worth of gas while on the phone, according to court documents.
- Investigators say Romelus later made several “incriminating statements” when questioned at the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office.
- Investigators searching her home in Montgomery County found evidence of criminal identity theft, according to a search warrant affidavit obtained by KHOU 11 Investigates. They found dozens of credit cards, ID cards, social security cards and treasury checks, according to the search warrant affidavit. Some items had Romelus’ photo with other names.
RELATED: What we know about Oninda Romelus, the Houston-area mother accused of shooting her four children
Court documents: Mother told investigators her children were ‘with the devil’
Court documents say Romelus “appeared paranoid” and kept looking around while being questioned in an interview room.
When asked why she called 911, she stated, “Instead of them doing it to me, I’m gonna do it to them,” according to court documents. When asked what she meant by “do it to them,” Romelus replied, “kill them all.” Court documents say Romelus then told the investigator that her children were “with the devil” and “they’re dead,” adding, “cause you can’t take me without me taking you,” and that her children were dead to her.
Romelus appeared on ‘Paternity Court’
Nearly 12 years ago, Romelus appeared on the reality TV show “Paternity Court,” seeking to determine the father of O’Karreo, who was 18 months old at the time.
Romelus’ fiancé told the judge that he didn’t believe he was the boy’s father.
“Because in the very same week that she conceived the baby, she had sexual relations with you and another man?” Judge Lauren Lake asked.
Romelus said she was angry because her fiancé cheated on her at a strip club, and they were “on a break,” so she had a one-night stand with the other guy. When she found out she was pregnant, Romelus said she wasn’t sure which man was the boy’s father.
The man involved in the one-night stand testified that he helped Romelus out financially after the baby was born and sometimes kept him for two or three weeks at a time.
Both men had paternity tests as part of the show. It turned out neither was the father.
“Let me tell you something: men lie, women lie, DNA? It don’t lie,” the judge said.
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