Two teenagers are facing charges related to the April drowning death of 18-year-old Daniel Erving at Lake Ray Hubbard in Texas. Lucas Roper, aged 19, and a 17-year-old suspect have been charged with tampering with physical evidence in connection to Erving’s accidental drowning. He died after jumping off a railroad bridge into the lake near Dallas.
Erving’s body was found on April 17, four days after his disappearance was reported. On July 9, Dallas police arrested Roper and the juvenile suspect. It is unclear if these suspects have legal representation. Early on Thursday, attempts to contact them were unsuccessful.
Daniel Erving, my baby boy,” said Tameka Erving, his mother. “He liked to go by Mike, so this is a fight for Mike. Mike was an outstanding young man. He was never into any trouble. He was like my guardian angel.”
Ben Crump, known for his work in civil rights cases, is representing Erving’s family and calls for comprehensive justice. Crump urges the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office to bring all relevant evidence before a grand jury, seeking all possible charges against the suspects.
Crump alleges the teenagers attempted to hide their connection to Erving. “They tried to discard any connection they had to him,” Crump stated. The suspects reportedly fled the scene in Roper’s vehicle and disposed of Erving’s items. The 17-year-old suspect allegedly threw Erving’s cellphone away following Roper’s instructions.
Tameka Erving expressed her quest for justice, stating, “If you were not guilty of a crime, why would you throw away his phone, throw away his clothes and not call his mother?”
Erving was last seen with Roper and the 17-year-old suspect, according to police. The three reportedly jumped from a railroad bridge into the lake, where Erving drowned. Erving’s family doubts the urgency with which law enforcement handled the early investigation stages.
In the time since, the silence and lack of communication have only deepened their worry that this case is not receiving the attention and diligence it demands,” said Dominique Alexander from Next Generation Action Network.
Erving’s mother noted that privacy laws restricted police from locating her son’s phone until after his body was recovered. She questioned the delay in reporting his disappearance.
Roper admitted to detectives that panic made him flee after the drowning and led him to delete all communications with Erving. The younger suspect’s mother stated that her son had attempted to locate Erving after they jumped into the lake.
The investigation, led by Dallas Police, remains ongoing. “The Dallas Police Department extends its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Daniel Erving,” said department spokesperson Erika Brown. “This was a tragic incident that resulted in the death of a young person.”
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