Charges in Drowning Death of 18-Year-Old at Texas Lake

Charges in Texas Lake Drowning Case

Two teenagers are facing charges related to the drowning death of 18-year-old Daniel Erving, whose body was found at Lake Ray Hubbard in April. Lucas Roper, 19, and an unnamed 17-year-old have been charged with tampering with physical evidence. Erving accidentally drowned after jumping off a railroad bridge into the lake outside Dallas. His body was recovered on April 17, four days after he was reported missing.

Arrest and Legal Proceedings

Authorities arrested Roper and the juvenile suspect on July 9, according to Dallas police. The suspects have yet to hire attorneys to speak on their behalf. Attempts to reach them early Thursday were unsuccessful.

Family Representation and Advocacy

Prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump represents Erving’s family. Crump is urging the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office to present evidence in Erving’s case to a grand jury and explore all potential charges against the suspects. Erving’s mother, Tameka Erving, expressed partial satisfaction with the recent arrests, describing her son as an ‘outstanding young man’ during a press conference.

Statement from Ben Crump

Crump emphasized the family’s desire for complete justice. He criticized the suspects for allegedly attempting to conceal their ties to Erving before his death, but expressed hope that law enforcement would pursue the case vigorously.

Incident Details

Erving, a senior at Sachse High School, was last seen with Roper and the 17-year-old at Lake Ray Hubbard. Investigators say they jumped from a railroad bridge and Erving drowned. Roper and the juvenile allegedly fled the scene and disposed of Erving’s belongings.

The younger suspect reportedly threw away Erving’s cellphone under Roper’s instructions. Erving’s mother questioned why they would discard his possessions if they were not guilty.

Investigation Concerns

The family’s advocacy group, Next Generation Action Network, criticized law enforcement’s response time and communication during the investigation’s early stages. Erving’s mother raised concerns about delays in locating her son’s phone, citing privacy laws.

Claims from Parties Involved

Roper allegedly admitted to detectives that he panicked after the drowning, leading to their flight from the scene. He confessed to deleting communication with Erving from his phone to avoid trouble. The younger teen’s mother claimed her son searched for Erving but couldn’t find him.

Ongoing Investigation

The Dallas Police Department, leading the investigation, offered condolences to Erving’s family, acknowledging the tragedy of a young person’s death. However, they withheld details due to the ongoing nature of the investigation.