A 14-year-old middle school student identified as a suspect in a deadly weekend shooting in Lavon is in custody.
Lavon Police said late Monday night that the juvenile suspect was taken into custody in Dallas without incident. Further details about the suspect’s capture were not released.
According to the Lavon Police Department, officers were called to a shooting in the 700 block of Wellington Drive in the Crestridge Meadows neighborhood at about 8:50 p.m. Saturday.
A witness told police a man was shot after an altercation between two people. Police said 24-year-old Romeo English, of Rowlett, suffered several gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead.
The juvenile suspect in the man’s murder left the party before police arrived.
“It’s very concerning,” said Chief J. Michael Jones. “We certainly know a basic level of what happened, but what I would say to the suspect and anybody that might be harboring the suspect or aiding him in his flight – first off, turn him in. Turn him in right away. Bring him in so we can talk to him and let him tell his side of the story.”
The chief told NBC 5 on Monday that officers were running down leads and visiting places where the suspect has ties, but had credible evidence to suggest he left town.
After the suspect was taken into custody, Lavon Police thanked several law enforcement partners for assisting in the search, including the Collin County District Attorney’s Office, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Louisiana State Police, the sheriff’s offices in Collin County, Dallas County and Bossier Parish, and police departments in Shreveport, Wylie, Josephine and the Community ISD.
On Sunday, Community ISD sent a letter to parents stating the suspect has been identified as a student of Community Trails Middle School. As a precaution, the district said it will close three campuses to visitors until an arrest is made: Community Trails Middle School, Dodson Elementary School, and NeSmith Elementary School.
NBC 5 News
NBC 5 News
According to the letter, the suspect has not been on campus since Nov. 11, and police believe Saturday’s shooting was a targeted act and that school campuses do not face any threat. The district also said each campus would have an increased security presence, along with the preexisting armed CISD police officer at each building.
Lavon Police is asking the public to submit any information or video that may help with the investigation. People can submit an anonymous tip with the keyword LAVONPD to 847411.