5th arrest made in connection to deadly fight at North Texas park; victim's twin brother among charged suspects
The Ferris Department of Public Safety has made a fifth arrest in connection with the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Sir Robert Wesley Dixon.
Donald Lofton Jr., 32, was taken into custody Tuesday without incident in Waxahachie. He is charged with failure to report a felony and tampering with physical evidence. He was taken to the Ellis County Jail.
The City of Ferris confirmed to CBS News Texas that the victim's twin brother, 17-year-old Mister Donald Dwayne Dixon, has also been arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in connection with the deadly park fight.
Sir Robert Dixon was killed and another person was injured after a brawl escalated into an exchange of gunfire at a park in Ferris on Saturday, authorities said.
Gunfire erupts during fight at Ferris park
A little before 2 p.m., the Ferris Department of Public Safety responded to the incident at Jerry Watson Park in the 300 block of Donna Drive.
Ferris DPS learned through witness accounts and surveillance footage that a fight involving at least 10 people, including juveniles and young adults, escalated when guns were drawn by multiple people, resulting in shots being fired.
DPS said a 17-year-old boy, identified as Sir Robert Wesley Dixon, was shot in the neck by another juvenile during the fight. Dixon was transported to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Following the initial shooting, DPS said a man retrieved a gun that had been in Dixon's possession and fired multiple rounds in the direction of the juvenile that he believed fired the first shot. A second juvenile was struck by gunfire and later treated.
Officials said both shooters were taken into custody, along with multiple people at the scene.
The juvenile who allegedly shot Dixon, whose name has not been released, has been charged with murder, and the man who fired shots afterward has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and unlawful carry of a weapon, DPS confirmed in a news release.
Fifth arrest in deadly Ferris park shooting
Ferris DPS said a search warrant was executed at Lofton's residence and another search warrant was executed on a vehicle he used to leave the scene of the fight that turned deadly.
Investigators also executed a separate search warrant on a vehicle that had been impounded since the day of the fatal shooting.
Ferris DPS said Lofton is related to both the victim, Sir Robert Wesley Dixon, and his twin brother, the 17-year-old suspect, Mister Donald Dixon.
Ferris DPS said at the time of the shooting, that vehicle was registered to an 18-year-old female named LaSkie Chandler. At the time of the shooting, the vehicle was occupied by the juvenile murder suspect and multiple other individuals.
The search of that vehicle led to the discovery of a firearm believed to be the possible murder weapon, according to Ferris DPS. Authorities said the weapon is consistent with witness descriptions and forensic analysis to confirm its connection to the fatal shooting is underway.
Primary suspects arrested in the shooting
Juliana Pargas and another suspect were arrested two days after the fight.
Pargas was found at a family member's home in Lancaster, according to Ferris DPS, about 10 miles northwest of where the incident took place. Ferris DPS said Pargas was arrested without incident.
The other suspect wanted in connection with the fight was also arrested on Monday, Ferris DPS said. She is a juvenile with an outstanding warrant directly related to the incident. Due to her age being unknown, her name was not released. The other suspect was believed to be in possession of the gun that was given to Dixon shortly before the shooting happened. DPS said that although her age is not confirmed, she has been identified as a suspect in the case, and the department anticipates filing charges now that she is in custody.
Pargas was wanted for tampering with evidence, DPS said.
DPS said another unnamed juvenile has been charged with murder.
In addition to the primary suspects, DPS said others were seen in surveillance video "physically participating, encouraging violence, or facilitating the conflict through actions or decisions that intensified the situation."
The investigation is ongoing. DPS is piecing together a timeline and searching for the suspects with the help of the Ellis County Sheriff's Department and the Ellis County District Attorney's Office.
City manager calls for healing and accountability
Ferris City Manager Brooks Williams issued a statement Sunday, further asking for those involved in the fight and shooting to come forward, and also offering his condolences to the family of the teen killed.
"In the past few days, our city has faced what no community ever hopes to experience," Williams said.
He called the incident at Jerry Watson Park "a product of something deeper," saying violence should never be the answer.
"Let us model something greater than division. Let us prove that Ferris will not be remembered for what happened, but for how we rose in response," Williams said.
The city manager also called on community leaders, including coaches and parents, to "speak life" into the youth and encourage them to be brave enough to speak up if they know anything surrounding the circumstances of the park incident.
"We are following the facts and evidence wherever they lead, ensuring no stone is left unturned. That is our responsibility, and we take it seriously," Williams said in a statement released by Ferris DPS on Tuesday. "Our hearts still break for the loss this community has suffered. We remain as steadfast in our prayers as we are in our resolve to see this case through. Our prayers are with the families, the victims, the community, and all those impacted. No part of this is easy, and none of it is something any community should have to endure. We look forward to better days."
