Ayden Bazy, 17, was denied bail after authorities linked him to an attempted armored truck robbery outside a southwest Houston business.
HOUSTON, TX — A 17-year-old high school football player who announced a commitment to Missouri State University has been charged with aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon after an attempted armored truck robbery in southwest Houston, according to police and Harris County court records.
Ayden Bazy, a Heights High School football player, is accused of taking part in the Aug. 4 attempted robbery outside an ACE Cash Express in the 5500 block of Bellaire Boulevard. Police said an armored truck guard shot Bazy and another teenage suspect during the confrontation. No money was taken. Bazy was denied bail Thursday, according to a court order reported by the Houston Chronicle.
Houston police said Bazy and an unidentified 16-year-old arrived at the strip mall as part of a group attempting to rob armored truck employees. Police said the teenagers used bear spray during the confrontation. The guard then opened fire, striking both teenagers before they fled. Authorities said their injuries were not considered life-threatening.
The teenagers were later dropped off at a nearby urgent care clinic and subsequently taken to Texas Children’s Hospital, according to local reports citing police. Investigators used license plate information to trace a vehicle believed to have been involved in the getaway to a car wash in north Houston. Officers found people there who police said were trying to clean blood from the vehicle.
Danaya Pope, 20, was identified by authorities as the alleged getaway driver. Harris County court records cited by the Houston Chronicle show Pope was charged with aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence. Police alleged that after dropping the wounded teenagers at the urgent care clinic, Pope went to the car wash, paid someone to clean blood from the vehicle and concealed a gun in its trunk.
A criminal complaint against Bazy alleges that he participated in an attempted theft from the armored truck guard and intentionally or knowingly threatened the guard or placed him in fear of imminent bodily injury or death. The complaint also alleges that Bazy used or exhibited a firearm during the offense. The allegations have not been proven in court.
Bazy had faced a separate aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon charge earlier this year. Court records cited by the Houston Chronicle show that case stemmed from a March 31 encounter in the Heights in which three people allegedly confronted two juveniles walking to school. Investigators alleged the group displayed firearms and searched the juveniles for property, although nothing was taken.
Prosecutors dismissed that earlier charge June 10, saying the case could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt at that time. The dismissal was subject to refiling. Five days later, Bazy announced on social media that he had committed to play football at Missouri State. The 6-foot-6, 290-pound offensive tackle had been a first-team all-district selection as a junior and had received multiple Division I offers.
Missouri State told KPRC that Bazy is not currently enrolled at the university. The school also said NCAA rules prevent university staff from commenting on the likelihood that a prospective student-athlete will commit to or sign with the institution. Bazy’s current status with the Heights High School football team was not publicly confirmed in the reporting reviewed.
As of Saturday, Bazy remained charged with aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon and had been denied bail. The unidentified 16-year-old and Pope also face charges connected to the attempted robbery. Authorities had not announced a final disposition of the cases, and the criminal allegations remain pending.
Author note: Last updated August 8, 2026.