Dallas, Texas – A 22-year-old man accused of fatally shooting a local high school student as he slept has surrendered to authorities. Rashad Earl Mayes, facing charges for the murder of 17-year-old Demaryae Dequan Hill-Young, turned himself in at the Dallas County Jail on Thursday, according to police officials.
The tragic incident occurred last weekend in what appeared to be a violent escalation of personal disputes. Police investigations revealed that both Mayes and Hill-Young were part of a gathering at a residence on Burger Avenue on the night of the shooting. The home is reported to belong to Mayes’ intermittent girlfriend.
Details from an arrest warrant affidavit indicate that Hill-Young had retreated to a bedroom to sleep where two other children, ages 7 and 13, were already asleep. Shortly after Hill-Young laid down, Mayes entered the room and shot him several times in the head. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, with investigators still piecing together the events that led to the tragedy.
The incident was particularly horrifying as it occurred in the presence of young children. The two children in the bedroom woke to the harrowing scene of Mayes standing over Hill-Young’s body. They reported that Mayes threatened their lives before he left the room. A 15-year-old, also present in the house, encountered Mayes who ominously warned him against reporting the incident.
Emergency services were called to the scene following a 911 call made by a 16-year-old, who discovered Hill-Young’s lifeless body. Despite efforts by Dallas Fire-Rescue personnel, they were unable to revive the teenager.
Further complicating the narrative of this violent night, Mayes’ ex-girlfriend cooperated with law enforcement, sharing their text exchanges that suggested Mayes was agitated over suspicions of her infidelity. She also presented a message sent by Mayes shortly before the shooting, which expressed his emotional turmoil.
Mayes is now being held on a $1 million bond as legal proceedings begin to unfold. It remains unknown if he has sought legal representation.
This incident has deeply impacted the community, particularly the students and staff at Lincoln High School, where Hill-Young was a student. The school is providing counseling services to those affected by this distressing event as they mourn the loss of a young life cut tragically short.
As the Dallas community grapples with this violent act, questions linger about the circumstances that led to such an eruption of violence, shedding light on broader issues of gun control and safety in domestic environments. As the legal process continues, many look for answers and actions that might prevent such tragedies in the future.