Man Killed After Being Shoved Into Moving DART Train

DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) – A 19-year-old man was killed Tuesday night when a group of "three or four" suspects between 12 and 14 years old beat him and pushed him in front of a moving DART train at the MLK Station near Fair Park, DART spokesman Mark Ball said.

Octavius Lanier was standing on a platform awaiting a train at about 6:40 p.m. when the group attacked him from behind, Ball said. The boys then shoved Lanier in front of a train that was traveling into the station.

The 19-year-old became lodged between the train and the platform and was dragged "a short distance," Ball said.

On Wednesday, DPD spokeswoman Sherri Jeffrey said the suspects are between 12 and 14 years old. One child was arrested late Tuesday night, and a second was taken into custody Wednesday afternoon, Jeffrey said. The first juvenile has been charged with capital murder, officials said.

Jeffrey did not say what the other suspect was charged with nor whether any others had been identified. She did not release either name or how old they are, only that they are juveniles.

Emergency crews transported Lanier to Baylor Hospital after the attack, where he was pronounced dead. Ball said his femoral artery was severed in the attack. Results from the medical examiner's autopsy show Lanier died from blunt force trauma. His death was also confirmed as a homicide.

Ball said cameras at the DART station captured the attack. Detectives are reviewing the tape and searching for remaining suspects.

On Wednesday, Lanier's mother said she was told the group of boys were attempting to steal her son's iPod. Takesha Harper said she can't believe children that young would be so malicious and questioned why there weren't officers on the train or, at least, at the DART station.

She said her son was a student at the CAN Academy and was set to graduate this spring. Lanier and Harper lived in Oak Cliff.