Hundreds Mourn Teen Killed in Shooting Spree

Hundreds of people gathered at Duncanville High School on Sunday to remember an incoming senior killed during a shooting spree that left four women dead and four children injured Aug. 7.

Tasmia Allen, 17, was one of the four people killed during last Wednesday's shootings in Dallas and DeSoto.

Some of Allen's classmates told the crowd they can’t yet accept that she’s gone while others said they plan to be inspired to become better people because of the example she set.

Friends said the slain teen had her life all planned out. She was looking forward to a great senior year, walking across the Ducanville High School stage at graduation in 2014 and then off to College Station to attend Texas A&M University.  After that, she hoped to become a teacher.

Instead, her friends and family were the ones on stage Sunday eulogizing her.

"The 2014 seniors, I know this is going to be a really tough school year but just include her in everything you guys do because she's still a part of your class,” said Destinee Merela, a friend who graduated from Duncanville High this past year.

Supporters spoke about a friend who loved school and loved to help people through tough times. They said Tasmia Allen gave good pep talks and the people here wish they could get one from her now.

"I comfort her, she comfort me,” said Melle Brown, a senior this year. “We had this bond I couldn't even explain, so friend is not a word to use. It is a sister."

Teachers who had Tasmia in their classes as early as the third and fourth grade came out to honor her memory.

"She enjoyed being in school. She was excited about everything. If there was something going on she wanted to be a big part of it,” said Diane Portner, who taught Allen in the fourth grade.

"She knew her role and that was definitely to soak up all the information we could give her so she could succeed,” added another of Allen's teachers. “She definitely had a plan in life.”

Tasmia Allen’s mother, Toya Smith, was also killed in the shootings. Allen’s brother, Storm Malone, was shot and is still recovering in the hospital. Family members said he’s getting a little better every day but they’ve yet to have the heart to tell him his sister and mother are gone.

Family members said the Storm Malone Recovery Account is set up at Wells Fargo Bank.

Contact Us