A 15-year-old boy has been shot and killed following an argument over a video game in North Texas. The Crowley Police Department reported that on August 18, Deeven Jones, 35, was charged with murder and tampering with evidence in connection to the shooting death of Tavion Swindell. According to NBC DFW, the incident occurred around 1 p.m. in the 1200 block of Celeste Street and was initially thought to be an isolated domestic incident. Officials later located Jones and arrested him in Fort Worth that evening.
The tragic end to what began as "smack-talking," a common term for verbal sparring over video games, escalated when, a witness claimed they heard Swindell express anticipation to "beat" the game, to which Jones allegedly responded aggressively. The situation quickly spiraled out of control, resulting in Jones reportedly shooting the teenager in the chest. Following the shooting, Swindell was transported to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth where he was pronounced dead due to his injuries. It was alleged by authorities that Jones directed the witness to delay contacting police and left the scene with the firearm, an act which authorities say was intended to complicate evidence collection, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
School officials and the community have been left reeling by Swindell's death. Southwest High School, where Swindell was enrolled and played on the football team, has canceled its upcoming football game and is offering crisis counseling through the Fort Worth Independent School District. "Our hearts are heavy, as we learned a student of the Southwest High School family passed away," Principal John Engel stated in a release that also included advice for helping children cope with the tragedy, as reported by NBC DFW. The school emphasized the importance of maintaining routines and being observant of children's emotional needs following the loss.
Family and neighbors have expressed their grief and disbelief over the incident. "He was just a fun-loving kid; he always would mess with you and be smiling about it," Swindell’s uncle, Raymond Andrew Jr., told NBC DFW. "I’m telling you, he had a good heart."
