11-03-2025
Man indicted in shooting that killed 3-year-old boy at Fort Lauderdale birthday party
A grand jury has indicted a Fort Lauderdale man on first-degree murder in the drive-by shooting death of 3-year-old Rylo Yancy last summer.
Rylo was tragically gunned down while attending a Sesame Street-themed birthday party at Riverland Park & Pool on Sunday afternoon, July 21. Paramedics rushed the child to Broward Health Medical Center, where he died.
READ MORE: 'He was too good for this world': Family mourns 3-year-old boy killed at a birthday party
After the barrage of gunfire, two cars —a 2024 red Mercedes-Benz C300 and a 2017 black Mercedes-Benz C300 — sped away from the scene. Police found the vehicles days later, but the investigation into who pulled the triggers that day remained under investigation.
On Monday, Fort Lauderdale police homicide detectives identified one of them as 20-year-old Tyler Hollins, who was already in Broward County jail on a December arrest on charges of possession of a firearm by a delinquent and unlawful carrying of a concealed weapon, according to Broward County court records.
Details of what led detectives to link Hollins to Rylo's murder were not immediately available — nor was the grand jury report
Fort Lauderdale police cautioned that, despite Hollins' arrest, more suspects have yet to be arrested.
'While this arrest marks significant progress in this murder investigation, there is still work to be done. Detectives have identified additional suspects involved in this shooting and are working to ensure those suspects are held accountable,' Detective Ali Adamson, a Fort Lauderdale police spokeswoman, said in a statement.
'Additionally, detectives continue to seek the public's assistance and urge anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has information about the remaining suspects to come forward,' Adamson said.
READ MORE: Police find car linked to drive-by that killed toddler at Fort Lauderdale birthday party
Hollins is being held without bond on the premeditated murder charge, according to jail records.
In his prior arrest, detectives with Broward Sheriff's Office's Burglary Apprehension Team were tailing a gray Mercedes C300 sedan Dec. 30 on Pines Boulevard. Detectives were waiting for the car to stop to arrest another man in the car, who had an outstanding warrant, according to a BSO arrest report.
The car pulled into a parking lot, where Hollins got out of the Mercedes and into the backseat of a Kia, the report states, while two other men remained in the Mercedes.
Florida Highway Patrol tried to get the driver of the Mercedes to pull over, but he sped off, with troopers ramming the car to get it to finally stop, the report states. The two men got into the Kia, the driver of which did pull over for police.
Officers found Hollins packing a Glock 47 handgun loaded with 14 rounds, according to the report. The gun was reported stolen from a car in Boca Raton, the report states.
Rylo was remembered by family members as an intelligent little boy who began talking when he was 9 months old.
'He brought peace and happiness to a household that was upside down,' his grandfather, Jerrold Pough, said days after the child's nulldeath. 'Even now, he's still bringing us together. God knew he was too good for this world.'
Detectives ask that with information about the case contact the FLPD Homicide Tipline at 954-828-6677 or Detective Juan Rodriguez at 954-828-6673.
Tips can also be provided anonymously by contacting Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS [8477]. A $10,000 reward continues to be offered for information leading to additional arrests
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
