Two teenagers face accusations connected to the drowning of 18-year-old Daniel Erving, whose body was found at a Texas lake in April. Lucas Roper, 19, along with a 17-year-old unidentified suspect, is charged with tampering with physical evidence following Erving’s accidental drowning at Lake Ray Hubbard, near Dallas. Erving’s body was discovered on April 17, four days after being reported missing.
The arrests, carried out on July 9, were announced by Dallas police. Current information does not clarify if the suspects have legal representation. Efforts to contact the individuals remained unsuccessful as of early Thursday.
Erving’s family is represented by prominent civil rights attorney, Ben Crump, who urges the Dallas County District Attorney to present the evidence to a grand jury, seeking all possible charges against the suspects.
“Daniel Erving, my baby boy,” his mother, Tameka Erving, mentioned during a press briefing. “He went by Mike. This is a fight for Mike. He was an exemplary young man, free from trouble, and like my guardian angel.”
Ben Crump emphasized the family’s pursuit for complete justice. “We’re going to ensure justice is served for Daniel Erving,” he stated, underscoring the family’s grief.
Crump alleged that the suspects tried to erase their connection to Erving. “They attempted to hide any ties to him,” Crump said. “But ultimately, the truth became known. We hope for vigilant law enforcement responses.”
According to the arrest affidavit, Erving, a senior at Sachse High School, was last seen with Roper and the juvenile at Lake Ray Hubbard on April 13. The group reportedly jumped into the water from a railroad bridge. Roper and the juvenile suspect allegedly left the scene and discarded some of Erving’s possessions.
The 17-year-old reportedly threw away Erving’s phone following Roper’s instructions. Tameka Erving questioned these actions, stating, “If innocent, why discard his phone and clothes instead of calling me? We seek justice for Daniel.”
Information from Dallas-Forth Worth news outlet KXAS indicated Erving, who swam on his school’s team, left for Lake Ray Hubbard to fish but did not return home. Dominique Alexander from Next Generation Action Network criticized the initial stages of the investigation for lack of urgency.
Privacy regulations reportedly prevented Rowlett police from pinging Erving’s phone until his body was found. This delay and communication gaps have led to family concerns about the investigation’s thoroughness.
“Daniel left with acquaintances to Lake Ray Hubbard, yet they failed to inform me or 911 of his absence,” said Alexander.
Although Rowlett and Dallas investigators have limited discussions due to ongoing investigations, Roper allegedly admitted to panicking, fleeing the scene, and removing Erving-related communications from his phone, fearing potential trouble.
According to NBC News, the younger teen’s mother claimed her son searched unsuccessfully for Erving after the jump into the lake.
Dallas Police, leading the investigation, conveyed condolences through spokesperson Erika Brown, acknowledging the tragedy of the incident.