Teens Charged in Drowning of 18-Year-Old at Texas Lake

Two teenagers have been charged following the drowning of 18-year-old Daniel Erving at Lake Ray Hubbard in Texas. The incident occurred after Erving jumped off a railroad bridge into the lake, outside Dallas, in April. After being reported missing for four days, his body was discovered on April 17.

Lucas Roper, aged 19, and a 17-year-old suspect face charges of tampering with evidence in connection with Erving’s accidental drowning. Dallas Police announced their arrests on July 9. There is no information regarding legal representation for the accused, and attempts to reach them were unsuccessful early Thursday.

Erving’s family, represented by civil rights attorney Ben Crump, is urging the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office to present evidence to a grand jury. Crump seeks comprehensive criminal charges against the suspects.

Erving’s mother, Tameka Erving, expressed that her son received “partial justice” after the arrests. “Daniel Erving, my baby boy,” she stated, noting her son’s nickname ‘Mike,’ adding that he was an outstanding young man, free from trouble.

During a press conference, Crump emphasized the family’s pursuit of “whole justice” for Erving’s death. “We’re going to get whole justice for Daniel Erving,” he insisted.

Crump accused the suspects of attempting to conceal connections with Erving before his death. “They tried to discard any connection,” he told reporters, calling for law enforcement to vigorously pursue justice.

According to the arrest affidavit, Erving was reported missing on April 13 after being seen with Roper and the 17-year-old at the lake. Investigators revealed that the group jumped from a railroad bridge, leading to Erving’s drowning. The suspects allegedly fled and disposed of Erving’s belongings.

The younger suspect allegedly tossed Erving’s cellphone from a vehicle under Roper’s direction. “If you were not guilty, why throw away his phone, his clothes, and not alert his mother?” questioned Tameka Erving.

The family’s concerns extend to apparent delays in early investigations and communication. Dominique Alexander, founder of Next Generation Action Network, criticized the initial response, calling for more urgency in an open letter to Dallas police.

Rowlett police encountered privacy laws difficulties when attempting to ping Erving’s phone before his body was recovered, the family reported.

Roper confessed to detectives about “panicking” after Erving drowned, which led to fleeing and deleting communications. He acknowledged anticipating an investigation into Erving’s death.

Meanwhile, the younger suspect’s mother told NBC News her son searched for Erving after the trio jumped into the lake but couldn’t locate him.

The investigation into Erving’s drowning is led by Dallas Police, as confirmed by Rowlett police. Dallas Police Department spokesperson Erika Brown conveyed the department’s condolences to Erving’s family, acknowledging the tragedy of the young student’s death.