A 14-year-old middle school student was arrested Monday evening in Dallas in the fatal shooting of 24-year-old Romeo English at a weekend gathering in Lavon, authorities said. Officers first responded around 8:50 p.m. Saturday to a home on Wellington Drive after reports of gunfire and a fight.
Police and school officials said the teen, a student in Community Independent School District, was identified as the suspect after witnesses described a brief altercation that turned deadly inside a neighborhood home. Investigators called the shooting targeted and said there is no continuing threat to the public. The arrest capped a two-day search that prompted added security and restricted visitor access at several nearby campuses. The suspect’s name was not released because he is a juvenile. Collin County juvenile prosecutors are reviewing the case while detectives continue interviews and process evidence collected at the scene and from surrounding homes.
Witnesses told investigators a pop-up get-together drew several people to the Crestridge Meadows neighborhood Saturday night. According to police, a verbal dispute between English and the teen escalated into a physical fight that was broken up by the homeowner. As English moved to leave, the teenager allegedly fired multiple shots at close range, striking him several times. Officers arrived minutes later, found English wounded, and began lifesaving measures. He was taken to a hospital, where he died. Neighbors reported hearing a flurry of gunfire and seeing people scatter into the cul-de-sac. Detectives worked under portable lights late into the night, collecting shell casings, photographing the entryway and driveway, and canvassing for doorbell video that might show the suspect’s movements.
Lavon Police Chief J. Michael Jones said early Monday that the department had credible leads on the teen’s whereabouts and emphasized the case appeared isolated. “Our goal is a thorough, fair investigation,” Jones said. Community Independent School District confirmed the suspect is enrolled at Community Trails Middle School and had not attended classes since Nov. 11. As a precaution during the search, the district placed additional officers on campuses and temporarily restricted visitors at Community Trails Middle School, Dodson Elementary and NeSmith Elementary. Police did not immediately identify the type of firearm used or explain how the juvenile obtained it. Authorities described the arrest in Dallas as uneventful and said the teen was taken into custody without incident.
Records and public statements indicate the victim, identified as English of Rowlett, was among several attendees at the gathering. The address sits in a newer subdivision about 35 miles northeast of downtown Dallas. Investigators said they had identified most of the people who were present and were arranging formal interviews to build a timeline, including who broke up the fight, who called 911, and how quickly the shooter left the home. Police said they are also tracing the firearm and checking whether any adults at the event tried to secure it or intervened after the altercation paused. Motive remains unknown. Detectives said preliminary interviews suggest a personal dispute that escalated quickly but cautioned that conclusions will depend on lab analysis and complete statements.
Texas law allows prosecutors to seek to have juveniles ages 14 to 16 certified to stand trial as adults in certain felony cases, a decision that requires a judge’s approval after a hearing. Collin County juvenile prosecutors are reviewing the case with police and have not said whether they will pursue certification. For now, the teen is being held at a juvenile facility pending an initial detention hearing, where a judge will decide whether he remains in custody as the case proceeds. If the case stays in juvenile court, records and future hearings will be more limited than in adult court. If certified, charges would be filed in district court and proceedings would be public.
The killing rattled this fast-growing bedroom community, where weekend nights often spill onto quiet streets. On Monday, a small memorial took shape near a mailbox on Wellington Drive—flowers, a candle, a handwritten card. Friends described English as upbeat and generous in posts shared among neighbors. “He had plans and a big heart,” one friend said, asking not to be named because of the ongoing investigation. Community ISD said counselors and social workers would be available on campuses this week and that athletic and extracurricular schedules would continue with an added police presence. Officers increased patrols through the neighborhood after the scene reopened to traffic.
Police said they are collecting phone data, social media messages and video from nearby homes and businesses to document the minutes before and after the shots were fired. Investigators asked anyone with footage from the 700 block of Wellington Drive between 8 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. Saturday to contact detectives. Authorities have not released the make of the firearm, the number of rounds recovered or the identity of the person who called 911. They also have not said whether they are searching for any additional suspects or whether any adults could face charges related to the teen’s access to a gun. Officials said a more detailed update is expected after the medical examiner issues final findings on cause and manner of death.
As of late Monday, the teen was in juvenile custody following his arrest in Dallas, and detectives planned additional interviews and evidence processing. A detention hearing is expected later this week, with police saying they will release new information after that court session and upon receipt of the medical examiner’s report.
Author note: Last updated December 16, 2025.