Teen Suspect in Collin County Homicide Taken Into Custody

A 14-year-old suspect wanted in a deadly shooting in Lavon over the weekend is in custody after being arrested in Dallas without incident, police said Monday night.

Lavon police reported that they took the teenager into custody Monday evening after a multi-agency search spanning North Texas. Authorities did not immediately release details about the arrest but confirmed it occurred peacefully.

The shooting happened Saturday night shortly before 9 p.m. on Wellington Drive in Lavon. Police said an argument broke out between the 14-year-old suspect and a 24-year-old acquaintance, escalating into violence. The teen is accused of shooting and killing the older man before fleeing the scene.

“A murder is a very rare thing in our city, so it’s shocking,” Lavon Police Chief J. Michael Jones said. “And it’s even more shocking that this suspect is a 14-year-old.”

Community Independent School District confirmed the suspect is a student at Community Trails Middle School. District leaders stated that they implemented additional measures earlier on Monday due to the uncertainty surrounding the suspect's whereabouts.

Earlier in the day, Jones publicly urged the suspect and anyone assisting him to surrender, emphasizing the seriousness of the investigation. “I will find you. I will investigate you, and I will put you in jail,” the chief said.

Police credited cooperation among law enforcement agencies and the public for helping locate the suspect. In a statement Monday night, Lavon police thanked numerous partners involved in the case, including the Collin County District Attorney’s Office, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Collin County Sheriff’s Office, the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office, the Community ISD Police Department and the Lavon Fire Department, among others.

The case has drawn attention because of the suspect’s age and the rarity of homicides in the fast-growing Collin County community. Investigators have not released details about potential charges, citing the suspect’s juvenile status.

The Collin County District Attorney's Office will release additional information as it becomes available.