Dallas police say a 2-year-old's shooting death in Oak Cliff has led to two arrests, several seized guns and a stash of illegal narcotics, following a weeks-long hunt that started with a call on a Tuesday afternoon and ended with a search warrant on Monday.
Authorities have identified 25-year-old Toderick Austin as the main person of interest in the April 23 shooting, and 18-year-old Jayveion Burnley was also taken into custody after investigators converged on a location tied to the case. Officers recovered several firearms and illegal drugs at the scene, and the child - who suffered an apparent gunshot wound - later died at a hospital.
Investigation and arrests
According to Dallas police, the Child Abuse Unit teamed up with Violent Crimes, the Safer Streets team and the Fugitive Task Force to track down Austin. Investigators followed leads from his social media accounts, which they say ultimately helped them pinpoint where to move in.
A search warrant was executed at the location where the suspects were found and both Austin and Burnley were taken into custody, as detailed by DPD Beat. During the operation, officers say they seized weapons and narcotics tied to the investigation.
"This was a tremendously heartbreaking case that deeply affected the community of Dallas," Chief Daniel Comeaux said, noting that detectives and specialized units pushed hard to close in on the suspects.
What happened on April 23
Officers first responded around 1:20 p.m. on April 23 to a shooting call in the 1700 block of Hemphill Drive in Oak Cliff. When they arrived, they found the toddler suffering from what appeared to be a gunshot wound. The child was rushed to a local hospital and later died, as reported by The Dallas Morning News.
Charges and evidence
In a May 11 update, police said Austin faces multiple charges, including Make Firearm Accessible to Child - Death/SBI and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon. Burnley is charged with Possession of Prohibited Weapons. The cases are documented under investigation numbers 057714-2026 and 060544-2026, according to DPD Beat.
How the charges play out under Texas law
Under Texas law, "making a firearm accessible to a child" is spelled out in Penal Code §46.13. The offense is usually a Class C misdemeanor, but it can be filed as a Class A misdemeanor if a child fires the gun and someone suffers death or serious bodily injury.
Unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon is covered in Section 46.04, which carries felony-level penalties that depend on a defendant's criminal history and the facts of the case.
Police say the investigation is still active, with detectives continuing follow-up work as they sort through evidence and present it to prosecutors. Anyone with information about the April 23 shooting is urged to contact Dallas police as the case moves through the criminal process.
