One of five child victims stabbed by mother in Italy, Texas identified by family

A GoFundMe account has been organized for one of the five children who were stabbed by their mother — three fatally — in Italy, Texas, on Friday.

“Legend’s young father needs help with the funeral expenses. No amount is too small,” wrote Shantae Haymer, the organizer of Legend Chapelle’s GoFundMe. “I am raising money on behalf of Legend’s father and his grandmother, Tanya Reese.”

A caseworker from Texas Child Protective Services decided to remove all five children after a home visit Friday in the 300 block of Harris Street near Stafford Elementary School in Italy, authorities have said. The caseworker called 911 and when police were dispatched to the scene they found Legend, 6; and a twin boy and twin girl, both 5 years old; fatally stabbed by their mother, Shamaiya Hall, 25, according to the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office.

A 4-year-old boy and a 13-month-old girl were seriously wounded. One of the wounded children was transported to a hospital in Fort Worth and the other child was taken to a hospital in Dallas.

Legend is the only child who has been publicly identified.

“Legend was a happy and healthy six-year-old boy. He loved Spider-Man. He loved his siblings. He loved school and just being a normal six-year-old,” Haymer wrote. “His life was violently cut short by his own mother on March 3, 2023, when she brutally stabbed Legend and all of his siblings. Sadly, Legend and two of his siblings succumbed to their injuries, while his two remaining siblings are still battling for their lives.”