Two teenagers are facing charges related to the drowning of 18-year-old Daniel Erving at Lake Ray Hubbard in Texas. The incident occurred when Erving jumped off a railroad bridge into the water, leading to accidental drowning. His body was found on April 17, four days after he was reported missing.
Lucas Roper, aged 19, and a 17-year-old suspect have been charged with tampering with physical evidence. Dallas police announced their arrests on July 9, although it’s unclear if they have legal representation. Attempts to reach the suspects were unsuccessful.
Erving’s family, represented by civil rights attorney Ben Crump, is pressing the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office to present the case to a grand jury and pursue all potential criminal charges. Tameka Erving, Daniel’s mother, expressed her desire for full justice, stating her son received “partial justice” with the arrests.
“Daniel Erving, my baby boy, liked to go by Mike,” Tameka Erving conveyed during a press conference. “This is a fight for Mike. He was never into trouble, he was like my guardian angel.”
Attorney Ben Crump emphasized the family’s pursuit of complete justice, criticizing the suspects’ attempts to hide their links to Erving’s death. Crump accused them of discarding evidence and encouraged a thorough investigation.
Erving was reported missing by Rowlett Police on April 13, last seen with Roper and the juvenile at Lake Ray Hubbard. The arrest affidavit states the group jumped from a railroad bridge, leading to Erving’s drowning. Allegedly, Roper and the juvenile fled in Roper’s vehicle, discarding Erving’s belongings.
The 17-year-old suspect reportedly threw Erving’s cellphone away under Roper’s instruction. Erving’s mother questioned why someone innocent would destroy evidence.
“A reasonably minded person would know that if you were not guilty of a crime, why would you throw away his phone, throw away his clothes and not call his mother,” said Tameka Erving.
Erving, a member of his high school swim team, never returned after leaving to go fishing at the lake. The family expressed concerns over the investigation’s initial urgency, claiming insufficient communication deepened their worries.
Dominique Alexander, founder of Next Generation Action Network, urged Dallas police to review their approach, citing delays in communication and response.
Rowlett police cited privacy laws as reasons for delays in pinging Erving’s phone. Relatives questioned the perceived delay in acknowledging his disappearance.
“Daniel left home with somebody, went to the lake with somebody, but nobody called his mother or 911,” Alexander criticized.
Details of the incident remain undisclosed due to the ongoing investigation, despite Roper allegedly confessing to fleeing and removing communications with Erving to avoid trouble.
The younger suspect’s mother stated that her son attempted to find Erving after they jumped into the lake but was unsuccessful. Dallas Police is leading the investigation, extending condolences to Erving’s family and emphasizing the tragedy of losing a young person.