Family calls for justice after evidence tampering charges filed in teen's drowning
Daniel Erving, 18, died after he drowned at a north Texas lake in April.
The family of Daniel Erving, an 18-year-old who drowned at a north Texas lake in April, is calling for justice after two teenagers were charged with tampering with physical evidence in connection with his death.
Tameka Erving, joined by their attorney Ben Crump, said during a press conference on Tuesday that her son received “partial justice” after the arrests of a 19-year-old and a 17-year-old in connection with this case.
“Daniel Irving, my baby boy. He liked to go by Mike, so this is a fight for Mike,” she said. Mike was an outstanding young man. He was never into any trouble. He was like my guardian angel.”
Crump said that the family is seeking “whole justice” for Erving’s death.
“We're going to make them get justice -- not partial justice, not half justice, not three-fifths justice, but we're going to get whole justice for Daniel Erving,” Crump said.
Lucas Roper, 19, and a 17-year-old juvenile suspect were arrested on July 9, according to the arrest affidavit, after investigators alleged they concealed evidence following Erving’s drowning death. They were each charged with tampering with physical evidence, a third-degree felony, the Dallas Police Department said on Monday.
It is unclear if Roper and the juvenile have retained attorneys. ABC News’ attempts to contact them directly were not successful.
“They tried to discard any connection they had to him. But thank God, we serve a God that sits high and looks low, and the truth could not be hidden forever,” Crump said. “And so we are looking to law enforcement to have the same zealousness that they would have had had the roles been reversed.”
According to the arrest affidavit, Erving was reported missing by the Rowlett Police Department on April 13 after he was last seen with Roper and a 17-year-old juvenile at Lake Ray Hubbard in Rowlett, Texas. Investigators allege the three jumped into the water from a railroad bridge near the 6300 block of Miller Road, where Erving drowned. His body was recovered on April 17.
The affidavit alleges that after Erving drowned, Roper and the juvenile fled the scene in Roper's vehicle and then discarded some of Erving's belongings.
Investigators allege that Roper threw Erving's clothing into a tree line near the bridge, and that the juvenile threw Erving's cellphone from the vehicle after Roper told him to do so.
"A reasonably minded person would know that if you were not guilty of a crime, why would you throw away his phone, throw away his clothes and not call his mother,” Tameka Erving said during a press conference on Monday. "I want justice for my son. I want justice for Daniel."
Roper allegedly admitted to detectives during a voluntary interview that he "panicked" after Erving drowned and that he and the juvenile fled the scene, the affidavit states.
Roper also admitted to deleting all communications with Erving from his cellphone because he "was aware that there would be an investigation into Daniel Erving's death and he did not want to get into trouble,” according to the affidavit.
The arrests came after the Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office ruled Daniel Erving's death an accidental drowning, according to a statement provided to ABC News.
A spokesperson for the Rowlett Police Department told ABC News on Monday that the Dallas Police Department (DPD) is the “lead agency investigating this case, as Daniel's death occurred within the City of Dallas.”
“The Rowlett Police Department is assisting DPD as requested and will continue to provide support throughout the investigation,” the statement continued.
A spokesperson for the Dallas Police Department confirmed the arrests in a statement to ABC News on Monday.
"The Dallas Police Department extends its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Daniel Erving," DPD spokesperson Erika M. Brown said in the statement. "This was a tragic incident that resulted in the death of a young person."
“Both suspects have been arrested, and the cases will proceed through the criminal justice system,” the statement added. “Because this matter remains an active criminal investigation and pending prosecution, the department cannot provide additional details at this time.”
Asked if police have further updates, a spokesperson for DPD told ABC News on Tuesday that “this is still an ongoing investigation,” and no further information is available at this time.
ABC News' Sabina Ghebremedhin contributed to this report.
Popular Reads
ABC News Live