Kayaker killed on Grapevine Lake was an accomplished athlete headed for USAF Academy

Update: The woman suspected of colliding with Ava Renee Moore was arrested Tuesday. Read more here.

We're learning more about an 18-year-old woman who was hit and killed while kayaking on Grapevine Lake over Memorial Day weekend.

Investigators said two women on a personal watercraft hit Ava Renee Moore as she was kayaking in Grapevine Lake on Sunday. When first responders arrived, the two women were no longer there. Video shared with NBC 5 showed several people carrying Moore out of the water and trying to provide first aid. Despite the life-saving efforts of witnesses and first responders, Moore died from severe traumatic injuries.

During a press conference on Wednesday morning, officials read out a statement from Moore's family.

"We are so thankful for the countless messages and demonstrations of love and support, but most grateful for the many prayers we have received," Moore's family said. "This is a difficult time for all involved, but also an opportunity for our beautiful girl to continue to impact our community. Out of this tragedy, God will make good, and that only can be accomplished through forgiveness. We respectfully ask for our time and privacy to grieve, and thank you for all of your kindness and support. God bless."

A friend since middle school who graduated from Keller Timber View High School with Moore in 2024, Brenden Bouyer, said she was determined, very strong-willed, and loved bringing people together.

“She hated discourse," Bouyer said. "She hated arguments. She always loved love. She always loved happiness, unity. She always loved to bring people together to make them smile.”

After 10 months in Colorado Springs attending the US Air Force Academy Preparatory School, Moore graduated on May 19 and recently accepted an appointment to join the US Air Force Academy as a member of the Class of 2029.

“We lost an exemplary teammate this weekend – Cadet Candidate Ava Moore, whose passion for leadership and service left an impact on everyone she met. Ava’s constant happiness and attitude helped her squadron get through the challenges of the Prep School, and her drive to excel was on display as she sought out leadership positions to improve herself and her team,” said Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind, U.S. Air Force Academy superintendent. “Our team is focused on providing support to Ava’s family, her Prep School Squadron, the Prep School Women’s Basketball team, and the entire Academy family.”

Moore was an accomplished basketball player, beloved by her teammates and coaches, who are now left heartbroken and in disbelief.

USAFA

USAFA

Moore met coach Ke'Sha Blanton at the USAFA prep school. Blanton said word of Moore's death was nothing short of devastating.

"Broke my heart for our players, broke my heart for our parents and her family. And then it just broke my heart, because you don't realize as a coach how much these players really impact you," Blanton said.

She remembered Moore as a hard worker, dependable, loyal, funny and motivated. She said Moore was home enjoying life before starting basic training for the US Air Force Academy.

"I was proud of her. You know, as a coach, I don't think we take the time to tell our players that enough because we're so busy pushing them to that next goal, that next statement, that next thing that we want them to achieve," Blanton said. "So my biggest thing was, I was proud of her. I was proud of everything that she was doing and how, no matter what the storm was, she made her way through it. So I think that would be the one thing that I wish I would have emphasized a lot more."

Blanton said Moore was there to protect her country and thought she could have been a four-star general one day. She said she was a star taken from the world, and now she and Moore's teammates are making plans for a final goodbye.

"We'll go celebrate her life and to be able to get with my players and one last time be a team with her, that's kind of where I am. Just get to my kids, get to my kids and we have that moment together," Blanton said. "We went 21-0 this season and this is the first loss we've taken and it's an unimaginable loss and so we've gone through the good together and we're gonna get through the bad together."

Blanton, now a recruiting coordinator and assistant coach at Tulane, said USAF prep school leaders, their commander and lieutenants, will join her in North Texas to celebrate Moore's life.