"We want action," mothers fed up following deadly shooting at Bowie High School
ARLINGTON — North Texan mothers who have lost children and other family members to gun violence or suicide came together Thursday. They traveled across the metroplex to offer support for Etavion Barnes' family after the 18-year-old student was killed in a shooting outside of Arlington's Bowie High School Wednesday.
The suspect in the shooting was identified as 17-year-old Julian Howard. He was arrested and charged with one count of murder in Barnes' death.
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The Arlington Police Department has yet to recover the gun used in the shooting and many questions remain in the ongoing investigation, including what the motive was.
Nonetheless, this group of mothers is calling on local leaders to take action to end youth gun violence. One mother is Felicia Williams, who lost her son "BJ" to gun violence in 2014.
"It needs to be a cry out and a force to be reckoned with and change needs to happen now because over and over, we keep seeing school shootings, gun violence and different things. Our babies are crying ... enough is enough," she said. "We want action. We want the city officials to come out in the community. Their hands and feet need to be dirty; They need to see what we go through in the community."
Arlington ISD has made counselors available to students and staff starting Friday at 9 a.m. There will also be counselors present next week, once class reopens Monday morning and for as long as it's necessary.
In response to the shooting, Superintendent Dr. Matt Smith said: "Words fail me this evening as we grapple with this tragedy that has impacted our entire Bowie High School family. Our schools should be safe places where students love to learn and grow, so we're devastated that violence disrupted that mission."
