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3 arrests made in West Mesquite shooting
By BRIAN PORTER/Managing Editor
An argument escalated into a shooting Saturday at West Mesquite High School during the Spring Show, but some present believe attention to security could have prevented the problem.
“I noticed that no teachers and no security were present,” said Tonda Shires, who volunteers to help with the annual show. “The kids were everywhere.”
Shires was concerned about security inside the auditorium at West Mesquite High School and placed the first call to police on Saturday. About 45 minutes after the Mesquite police left, three 17-year-olds opened fire outside the school and one student was injured.
Latret Thompson, a Dallas student, got into an argument with some West Mesquite students and then called two friends, Keldrick Payton and Lebreon Johnson, who all returned to the school, police say.
Payton took a shotgun from the trunk of their car and fired into the crowd at the front of the school, police say. A bystander was struck in the leg.
The three 17-year-olds were arrested Monday. The gunshot victim was taken to a local hospital Saturday and reportedly was in good condition. The three suspects in the shooting are charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a second-degree felony punishable by 20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000. Payton’s bond was set at $100,000. Johnson and Thompson were being held on $50,000 bond each.
Because Shires called police to the school prior to the shooting, she believes the incident could have been avoided.
“They came and then left,” she said. “There were no teachers or security called. About 45 minutes later the shooting occurred.”
Trouble reportedly arose on Friday, when students participating in the spring show were practicing. Shires indicates students were being allowed to “get out of control.”
“You have many different kids of many different ethnic origins at the school,” she said. “I think that is good. When they are allowed to carry on, that is not a good thing.”
Shires and her husband Bobby, 52-year residents of Mesquite and both graduates of Mesquite High School, had volunteered with the show in the past and had been pleased with the security at the show.
“There had always been security inside and outside the school,” she said. “You didn’t have children not being watched and helped.”
Shires indicates many people left the show because of the ongoings in the auditorium. She tells a story of a rock band performance resulting in students coming to the stage and then continuing to disrupt the show. She’s concerned what happened outside could have been an incident inside the auditorium.
Her other concern was in the notification to those in attendance that a criminal activity had taken place outside.
“At no time did anyone make an announcement to us to stay inside,” Shires said. “They never told us to leave and they never made sure we could get out OK. When people went outside, they were shocked because they didn’t know what had happened.”
Contrary to reports that the shooting took place off campus, Shires says it was in the front of the school and that a family car was part of the crime scene.
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
Kim wrote on May 21, 2007 10:42 AM:
" Over the last 2 years, Mesquite has become so "ghetto", what did everyone expect? We've been in Mesquite for over 12 years and have always been pleased with the schools and the safety of the city. We are now selling our home at a loss and will be home-schooling our child starting this year to prevent him from entering Mesquite Middle and High Schools. They are dangerous places to be anymore. Our once quiet street is now filled with middle and high school-aged black and hispanic children that roam the streets at all hours of the night. What happened to the curfew? We never used to worry much about the safety of our neighborhood, now we keep the front and back doors locked all the time. Our 6th grader is not allowed to play outside unless one of us is with him. It's ridiculous!! "
timiney wrote on May 22, 2007 7:37 PM:
" first of all let me say i go to west mesquite high school and i live in the neighbor hood mesquite has not turned Ghetto its just the way we act. Yes i kno the boys that came up there was wrong for what they did but that dnt make mesquite Ghetto. Also black and Hispanics are not the only ones that roam the streets white kids do too "
Mechelle wrote on May 23, 2007 7:07 AM:
" to the previous writer "Kim"
Ghetto-do you even know what that word means, have you ever seen a ghetto, doubt it to both questions. As for the black and hispanic kids whom you say roam your streets all hours of the night, what makes you think they are the only two races, that roam the streets and stay all night. This is Mesquite, lets not leave out the white race, who also roam the streets all hours of the night too. You should lock your front and back doors at all times, you never know who may be in your neighborhood. Maybe you should leave your kid in school, because he/she may grow up thinking those same simple thoughts that you have, which only to me, show a display of ignorance. Please stop stereotyping!! "
DELORES wrote on May 23, 2007 3:02 PM:
" Take a loss and move. Blacks and hispanic have the right to live where ever. There parents are paying taxes to live in Mesquite just like you. The white kids aren't roaming the streets because they are all some where snorting cocaine or shooting up drugs. "
Barbara wrote on May 24, 2007 9:05 AM:
" Grow up people! Regardless of red, yellow, black or white, no kid needs to be roaming the streets at night or allowed to carry firearms. I've lived in south Mesquite for 40+ years and it's definitely gone downhill. I used to feel comfortable napping in my hammock in my backyard at night, but no way can I do that now. The way these kids act is preventing us from getting amenities that other parts of Mesquite have at their disposal. You folks need to change your mindset and be responsible citizens! "
Barbara wrote on May 24, 2007 9:32 AM:
" Well, I'll be calling the cops on EVERY KID I SEE regardless of race, roaming the streets at nights from now on. I've lived in Mesquite for 40+ years and it has definitely gone downhill. It's a mindset and you kids need to grow up! Parents are raising irresponsible kids! If you know of a student who is driving around with a gun in their trunk, call the police. That's called being RESPONSIBLE! A couple of you may need to look up the meaning of that word. "
Laura Hammons wrote on May 24, 2007 12:22 PM:
" MISD has a clear and evident problem when it comes protecting schools and our children. AS an Edgemont Park resident, who lives near West Mesquite, our neighborhood and school are not protected by an obvious police force. McWhorter Elementary, for example, is in Mesquite; but on a Balch Springs road! Their police force is 10 MEN DOWN in their police department. Having MISD schools in other cities has stretched our priorities thin!
This has been a long-time passion of mine as I notice no obvious police presence monitoring school zones (in my hood'). The danger is clear and evident. As our community swells each year in population the attention isn't given to how the police are going to reach the demands of our public school systems. We just passed a school bond and I didn't hear any money that was going to be given to police, parks, and after-school activities. We can have all the technology in the world; but people are what keeps our children safe. I suggest the Mesquite Police Department, Balch Springs Police Department, Sunnyvale and so forth get with MISD to create emergency plans that would benefit all MISD schools, despite what city you are in. All police departments who share MISD schools ought to partnership to create a more responsible and industrious program to make our children safe. Of course, HAVING PARENTS INVOLVED WOULD BE PARAMOUNT.
These are our children we are talking about!
I am glad you brought the race card up, Kim. Our neighborhood has become to "colored" for many to care about what is going on around here. I recognize that everyday. Too bad it takes a tragedy for lessons to be learned. I love my old neighborhood and I love Mesquite.
By the way, I admire the Mesquite Police Department-this is an MISD problem that needs to be resolved.
I wouldn't live here if it weren't for Mesquite police.
Thank GOD their getting new police building!
www.edgemontpark5.com
www.friendsofmcwhorterpark.com
"
Tammi wrote on May 24, 2007 1:59 PM:
" I donn't think it matters what if you are white, black, hispanics it is how you are raised.
I have livedin Mesquite all my life..... it does not matter where you live, the ghetto peolpe are everywhere.
everyone one need to go to church and learn how to love one another.
What happen to the curfew, I make my 19 be home by 1am.....
"
a mother thats lives in plano tx wrote on May 24, 2007 5:55 PM:
" This goes on every were , We just have to work harder with kids , this happen in plano tx to "
Monica wrote on May 24, 2007 7:07 PM:
" Timiney, not sure what you're trying to say since you contradicted yourself, but what those boys did is EXACTLY what is making Mesquite go down. It's not the color of the skin, it's these punks ACTIONS. Did you know they had possession of firearms? We used to never hear about murders/guns/assaults and it saddens me that it's become common place. With the beer stores opening up, crime will only multiply. This has been my neighborhood for 40+ years and it's sure not what it used to be!! I think we just have alot of irresponsible parents letting their kids run wild. "
ELIZABETH wrote on May 26, 2007 2:41 AM:
" I lived 23 years in Mesquite and went to elementry, middle school and high school in Mesquite, and you know this stuff was happening back then too. I moved away in 1994 when my sister graduated from North Mesquite H.S. The thing is that MISD needs more support from the parents. I now live in a small town and the things that are happening there are here too. Parents need to take more control of their children. Yes I know there are parents who don't care what there kids do. But that happens in all races, not just hispanic and blacks. People are ignorant who think that, and hopefully their child will not grow up to think that way. Think about what you are saying when you stereotype people. Put a stop to it. I have been gone 14 years, but I go and visit as much as I can and it is noticeable that it has gone down, but you know you can always bring it back up. Mesquite will always be my home. So stop and think of you children and how you raise them. Help MISD!!!!!!!! "
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