Buena Vista Ambush: The Allegations Against Kaila E. Partlo
The Ride That Turned Into a Trap
On an autumn afternoon in late October, a car traveled from Oakland County toward Saginaw County carrying an adult woman and two teenage boys. What investigators would later allege is that the drive was not random, and that its purpose extended far beyond an ordinary errand.
According to law enforcement statements, the group arrived in Buena Vista Township and stopped near a residential area at the intersection of Irving Park Boulevard and Irving Park Place. What happened next unfolded quickly and violently. One of the teenagers exited the vehicle and moved toward a nearby fence, believing he had been instructed to distribute business cards. As he turned back toward the vehicle, he reportedly saw another teen leaning out of the car holding a firearm.
Investigators allege that at least one shot was fired from inside the vehicle toward the teen’s head. The intended target dropped to the ground, avoiding serious physical injury. Within moments, the car allegedly accelerated away from the scene, leaving the teen behind.
The victim was left without transportation, without his phone, and without answers. His newly purchased smartphone, still inside the fleeing vehicle, would later become a critical piece of the investigation.
What followed was not a chaotic chase but a digital trail. Investigators later confirmed that technology played a key role in tracing the vehicle’s movements after the shooting. The phone was eventually located damaged near a curb in another neighborhood. By the time police reached the residence they believed the vehicle returned to, the alleged shooter and driver were already back in Flint.
Days later, an arrest warrant would be issued for the adult woman at the center of the case, accusing her not of pulling the trigger, but of helping the person who allegedly did.
A Teen Left Behind
The victim in this case is a teenage boy whose name has not been publicly released due to his age. What is known is that he was reportedly dating the daughter of the accused adult woman and was invited along on the drive that day under the impression it involved a benign task.
According to investigators, the teen did not expect violence and was unarmed. He was allegedly positioned outside the vehicle at the moment the firearm was discharged, placing him in direct danger with little ability to protect himself.
After the vehicle fled, the teen sought help from a nearby resident and contacted emergency services. While he was not physically struck by a bullet, the psychological impact of narrowly avoiding a shooting cannot be overstated, particularly for a minor placed in harm’s way by people he knew.
The victim’s experience underscores the broader concern in this case: the alleged involvement of adults in facilitating violent acts carried out by minors, and the lasting effects those actions can have even when they do not result in physical injury.
Following the Digital Trail
As investigators reconstructed the events of October 27, attention turned to what happened after the car left the scene. The victim’s phone, left behind in the vehicle, continued transmitting location data. That digital signal, combined with automated license plate reader data, reportedly allowed investigators to trace the route taken after the alleged shooting.
The phone was later found destroyed near a curb, a discovery investigators say aligned with statements later made by the teenage suspect. Law enforcement also conducted a search of the Flint residence connected to the adult suspect. During that search, a handgun believed to be involved in the incident was recovered from a safe.
Investigators allege the firearm had been purchased several years earlier by the adult suspect. During questioning, police state that the adult initially accepted responsibility for aspects of the incident before altering her account, reportedly stating she was trying to protect the teenage boyfriend accused of firing the weapon.
The case took on additional complexity due to the ages of those involved. While the adult suspect faces criminal charges in district court, the alleged shooter is being handled through the juvenile justice system, limiting what information can be publicly released.
Court proceedings began quietly. The adult suspect was arraigned weeks after the incident and released on bond pending a preliminary examination. Meanwhile, the juvenile case moved forward separately, shielded from public view by law.
What Officials Have Put on Record
Investigators have confirmed that a firearm was discharged from a vehicle during the incident and that the intended target was a minor.
Law enforcement has stated that digital evidence, including phone location data and license plate camera information, was used to trace the vehicle’s movements after the shooting.
Police have confirmed the recovery of a handgun believed to be connected to the incident and have stated that the adult suspect acknowledged ownership of the firearm.
Authorities have confirmed that the adult suspect was arrested, arraigned, and released on bond, and that a preliminary examination has been scheduled.
Investigators have also confirmed that the teenage suspect is facing multiple charges through juvenile court proceedings.
Questions That Still Hang in the Air
- What specific communications occurred between the adults and teens before the trip began
- Whether any prior threats or planning can be proven
- The exact number of shots fired
- Whether additional witnesses observed the vehicle before or after the shooting
- What conditions were placed on the adult suspect’s bond beyond the monetary amount
- Whether further charges could be filed as the investigation continues
The People Tied to This Story
Kaila E. Partlo - Accused getaway driver - Adult woman accused of driving the vehicle used in the alleged shooting and assisting in fleeing the scene
Teenage male - Accused shooter - Minor alleged to have fired a handgun from the vehicle toward another teen
Teenage male - Victim - Minor allegedly targeted during the drive-by shooting
Teenage female - Related individual - Daughter of ::contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}