Convicted felon surrenders, charged in one of the Deep Ellum Halloween shootings
A convicted felon has been arrested and is facing multiple charges in one of the three Deep Ellum Halloween shootings that together killed four people and injured 15 others, federal investigators and Dallas Police say.
Ryan Raybould, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, said Thursday that 31-year-old David Dishon Yancy surrendered to Dallas Police on Wednesday after he was identified in photos taken from surveillance video of the shooting and that were shared by local news stations.
"We've officially charged one of the shooters responsible for one of the mass shootings in Deep Ellum on Halloween weekend," Raybould said Thursday.
Federal investigators released the images the day before, showing a man in Deep Ellum pull a gun out of his waistband and cock it moments before they said he fired 11 rounds indiscriminately into a crowded street.
Raybould said Yancy is facing federal charges for being a felon in possession of a firearm or ammunition and that more federal charges are possible.
"The defendant is a convicted felon. He was also on felony probation for child endangerment and had an active arrest warrant hanging over his head. Because of these poor decisions, he at least initially only faces the charge of felon in possession of a firearm, which carries at least 15 years. And if he's convicted, he absolutely is getting all the 15 years, but we're still looking ... it's just the start for Mr. Yancy," Raybould said.
Yancy is also charged in Dallas County with seven counts of aggravated assault – mass shooting, a first-degree felony. In Texas, convictions for first-degree felonies carry sentences between 5 years and life.
It's unclear if Yancy has obtained an attorney to speak on his behalf.
Raybound said Yancy was on the streets of Deep Ellum at about 1 a.m. when surveillance video recorded him standing in a crowd. Raybound said Yancy was seen in the recording pulling out a gun and, just after 1 a.m., firing into the crowd.
"The videos and the great tips captured Mr. Yancy pulling a handgun from his waistband. Very deliberately, I might add. Premeditated, I might add. You see him cocking a chamber in the round and then placing it back in his waistband," Raybould said. "Moments later, as captured on multiple videos, Mr. Yancy pulled that handgun out and fired 11 rounds, indiscriminately, into a crowded street."
Raybould said Yancy can be seen shooting in the video and that seven people were struck by gunfire.
"So here is the photo here of Mr. Yancy just firing off; you could see how many Halloween folks are out there having a great time, and their night turned into a nightmare because of his actions," Raybould said. "Eleven rounds. Seven people were struck by gunfire, and it's only by the grace of God and the immediate response of our great first responders that we are not standing here today talking about seven more funerals. We already have four."
The four victims who died in the series of shootings have been identified as 20-year-old Isaiah Boling, who was killed in the first shooting at about 12:19 a.m., and 25-year-old Anthony Martin, 21-year-old Kaniesa Scott and 28-year-old Unique Benjamin, who all died in the third shooting at about 1:35 a.m.
Raybould said Yancy was with another person who could have stopped him before he fired into the crowd and he encouraged that person to surrender to investigators, too.
"There is another person, and I'll invite that person to come on in and turn yourself in; You're in the conspiracy, who sees this all unfold. And instead of saying, 'Please don't do that. Stop.' They look at each other and it continues," Raybould said.
Raybould said community tips from the publication of the surveillance video helped them identify Yancy. He said Yancy did the right thing and surrendered after realizing the walls were closing in on him.
Raybould said the investigations into the two other shootings are ongoing and that surveillance video is being reviewed in those cases."You know who you are. This message is for you. Turn yourself in. Do the right thing. Your only chance at some leniency is to start cooperating, Raybould said. "This is an open invitation for you to cooperate and to turn yourself in. And if we find you, it's going to be a lot worse. It's still going to be bad. But if we find you, it's going to be very, very bad for you."
Anyone with information on any of these shootings is asked to contact Sgt. Boz Rojas at 214-671-3598 or at boz.rojas@dallaspolice.gov.
Comments