AMARILLO, TX – A 13-year-old boy is facing a murder charge after an 18-year-old was fatally shot Tuesday evening at Benton Park, according to the Amarillo Police Department.
The incident occurred around 7:30 p.m. on April 22 at the park located in the 1400 block of South Vernon Street in east Amarillo. Officers responded to a report of a shooting and discovered Ethan DeLeon, 18, suffering from a gunshot wound inside a parked vehicle.
Emergency responders attempted life-saving measures, but DeLeon was pronounced dead at the scene.
Following an investigation by the Amarillo Police Department’s Homicide Unit, detectives identified the suspect as a 13-year-old male. The juvenile was taken into custody and has been booked into the Youth Center of the High Plains on a charge of murder.
Crime Scene Investigators spent several hours processing the scene Tuesday night, collecting evidence and documenting the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Authorities have not yet disclosed the motive behind the shooting or how the suspect obtained the firearm. The case remains under active investigation.
“This is a heartbreaking and deeply troubling case,” said an APD spokesperson. “We are working diligently to understand what led to this senseless act of violence involving such a young suspect.”
Anyone with additional information is urged to contact the APD Homicide Unit at (806) 378-9468 or submit anonymous tips through Amarillo Crime Stoppers at (806) 374-4400.
The shooting has shocked the Amarillo community and raised serious concerns about youth violence and access to firearms.