Dallas police are continuing to search for a juvenile believed to have accidentally shot and killed an 11-year-old boy Sunday afternoon.
During the preliminary investigation, detectives identified an unnamed juvenile suspect and are currently looking for the teen. They said the shooting appears to have been accidental, though they have not shared any other details.
A cousin of 11-year-old Marquis Goynes told NBC 5 Monday that he was at a friend's house where someone was handling a gun. The gun, which was believed to have been unloaded, was pointed at Goynes before it went off.
The investigation into the shooting is ongoing. The Dallas Police Department is asking for anyone with information regarding this investigation to contact Homicide Detective Guy Curtis, at 214-671-3633 or by email at guy.curtis@dallascityhall.com.
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POLICE RESPOND TO SHOOTING CALL SUNDAY
Dallas Police were called to an apartment on the 3500 block of Munger Avenue just before 3 p.m. Sunday where a child had reportedly been shot.
Dallas Fire and Rescue arrived at the apartment and pronounced the child deceased at the scene.
The Roseland Townhomes community where Goynes was killed is a DHA public housing community with a violent past. In August 2019, 9-year-old Brandoniya Bennett was shot and killed when a man involved in a fight over a rap song targeted her home by mistake. Earlier in the summer, two teens were killed in a drive-by shooting; in 2015 a 12-year-old boy was shot in the leg after being caught in the crossfire of a gunfight.
Goynes' death is the 121st homicide of the year in Dallas, the eighth victim under the age of 17.
FAMILY, FRIENDS REMEMBER SLAIN CHILD
Marquis Goynes is being remembered Monday as a well-known boy with a good sense of humor who loved football.
"He was my friend," said Kemondre Hines, who has been heartbroken over the loss of his teammate and friend. "He was kinda chubby and funny."
As Goynes' family plans his funeral, Hines has a message for other kids.
"Um, stay away from guns," Hines said.
Leland Lloyd, of Mesquite, said he was going to be Goynes' coach this year.
"He was a great kid. He liked his basketball. He liked football like most kids do. He was like a leader. Whatever he did, the other kids followed. It’s going to be a loss to us," he said.
Lloyd coaches a youth football team in Dallas and said the child was set to play for him this year. Lloyd grew up in the Old East Dallas community.
"This makes me feel like I didn’t do my job good enough just to see that happen. That’s why I’m here. I want to make a difference in the kids’ life, so stuff like this doesn’t happen. So, I’m really bothered by this," he said. "This kid is so young. It’s sad to see kids leave here due to gun violence. I just don’t understand it."
