An 18-year-old man arrested in Texas admitted to shooting a 17-year-old football star to death in downtown Dallas.
Leroy Hawkins was sitting in a car in a parking lot early June 4 when police officers responded to find him with several gunshot wounds. He was rushed to a hospital but later pronounced dead.
Kenaijae Keon Anderson admitted to killing Hawkins in an interview with detectives, the Dallas Police Department said in an alert on Wednesday. Anderson was interviewed after investigators tabbed him as the person responsible for the murder of Hawkins.
Anderson was booked into the Dallas County Lew Sterrett Jail and charged with murder.
Prayers up for Leroy Hawkins III, the recent Desoto HS graduate was shot and killed last night while attending a graduation party. Was headed to Jackson St on a football scholarship. Please keep family and loved ones lifted up! pic.twitter.com/BIvEXvTJdn
— Jabari Johnson (@coachjabari) June 4, 2019
Police officials told WFAA that Anderson approached a red 2007 Pontiac and began arguing with two people inside, one of whom was Hawkins. The driver fled the scene on foot but Hawkins was found wounded.
All three of the people involved knew each other, police said.
The DeSoto Independent School District said that Anderson was a recent graduate of DeSoto High School, just like Hawkins.
“As our community continues to mourn for Hawkins, we also extend our concern and support to the family of the other young man as well,” district officials said in a statement obtained by WFAA.
I just was thinking about all the people said I was never gone be nothing never was gone get pass high school ???? look at me now ???? pic.twitter.com/eEDlJWDh9T
— Leroy hawkins (@leroyhawkins75) May 31, 2019
“This tragedy furthers underscores the opportunity that we have to ensure that our students have avenues and support to adequately navigate and resolve conflicts,” the statement said.
Hawkins played football for the high school and signed with Jackson State University as a student-athlete, the Dallas Morning News reported.
Champ Mathis, a friend of the victim, told NBC DFW that Hawkins was a fun person.
“He’s got the biggest smile in the room. Lights it up. Have fun with him. He talks to you, encourages you. And he had a bright future ahead of him,” Mathis said.
NOW: Dallas Police Chief Hall is on scene of a deadly shooting in Pleasant Grove. She tells me she gave her condolences to the 14 yr old boy’s mother and the teenage witness. Hall to brief media shortly @FOX4 pic.twitter.com/sQnNk0UHqk
— Alex Boyér (@AlexBoyerFox4) June 5, 2019
He didn’t know why his friend was in Dallas but said people in DeSoto are aware of the string of murders in Dallas.
“We’re aware of it, and it needs to stop,” Mathis said. “We should be able to go out and have fun with our friends and go home to our loved ones, knowing that there won’t be any issues.”
The shooting came a day prior to a 13-year-old boy getting hit by a stray bullet or crossfire. He died from the wound.
“We are very, very angry about the level of violence that we are seeing in this city. We have lost one of our youth to violence that is not necessary,” Dallas Police Chief Renee Hall said at the scene. “We will work all night until we find these suspects.”
@DallasPD pic.twitter.com/05q7QUeoQ8
— U. RENEÉ HALL (@ChiefHallDPD) June 4, 2019
Hall said at a press conference on Monday that officers were trying to prevent crime but she was also focusing on programs to help stem the spate of shootings.
“The police department is not able to arrest our way out of this. There are socio-economic issues related to crime in this city. There are individuals who have returned from prison who cannot find a job, who are not educated. So in those instances, those individuals are forced to commit violent acts,” Hall said Monday.
After backlash over her comments, Hall issued a comment clarifying what she said.
“There is no excuse for crime. Crime in general however, is on the rise in Dallas for many reasons. One of them being a lack of resources and opportunity,” the statement said.
