A teenage boy was shot in Everman on Monday after a fight broke out on the basketball court and spilled onto a volleyball court, according to C. W. Spencer, Everman chief of police and director of emergency services.
“There was a group of individuals, most of which were teenagers, gathered on the basketball court,” Spencer told The Dallas Express.
“During that fight, one teenager brandished a handgun and fired multiple rounds toward another teenager, and at least one of those rounds struck that teenager,” Spencer continued.
The shooting occurred at Johnson Park in the 1900 block of Everman Parkway at around 7:30 p.m., according to police.
When police arrived at the scene, they found a teenage boy with a gunshot wound, police said.
Everman Fire personnel were called to the scene and transported the victim to a local hospital.
“He was transported initially in critical condition to a local hospital, was ultimately released (Monday) night, and is doing well,” Spencer said.
Spencer told The Dallas Express that while police do not have anybody in custody yet, they have a suspect.
Spencer explained to The Dallas Express that investigators had identified the shooter and were working to take the suspect into custody.
The identity of the suspect and victim remain unknown due to age; however, The Dallas Express asked Chief Spencer about the idea of a teenager gaining access to a firearm, carrying it recklessly, and using it illegally.
“I think there are all kinds of issues surrounding it. Anytime a teenager is in possession of a handgun, there are some parenting issues that come into play,” Spencer said.
“We try to work with our school district, and unfortunately, this isn’t the first time that we’ve had teenagers in possession of handguns. I think a lot of it has to do with the lack of education of how dangerous they can be,” he added.
He expressed that one of the most frightening parts about this particular incident is that the shooting took place adjacent to multiple baseball fields full of kids practicing and parents watching.
The investigation is ongoing.
Spencer told The Dallas Express that the possible pending charges are aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. If not aggravated assault, the charge could potentially be attempted murder. Police are also looking into deadly conduct charges for firing a weapon toward a crowd.
Violent crime persists in the nearby city of Dallas as murders have increased by nearly 23% over the past year, according to the Dallas Police Daily Crime Brief.