Arlington police zeroing in on person of interest in Six Flags Hurricane Harbor shooting
Arlington detectives began on Thursday to zero in on a person of interest in the shooting death of a 16-year-old boy just outside of Six Flags Hurricane Harbor water park.
Police conducted interviews with witnesses to a parking lot fight during which the Wednesday evening killing occurred, but had not made an arrest.
Police did not release other details on the possible person of interest.
The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim as Dai’trell Teal. He died at Arlington Memorial Hospital of a gunshot wound to his back.
Teal was a student at Martin High School in the Arlington Independent School District and was to have been a junior in the fall, a district official said.
“With a heavy heart, the Arlington ISD reports that one of our students was shot and killed last night outside of Hurricane Harbor,” the district wrote in a statement.
Teal was shot during a fight outside the water park’s entrance as it closed for the day, police said. He was fired on about 7 p.m. in the lot in the 1800 block of East Lamar Boulevard.
An off-duty Arlington police officer was working a part-time security job at the park when he heard car horns coming from the lot and walked from the front gate. He saw a group of six to eight people fighting, police said. As the officer began to move toward the group to break up the fight, he heard a gunshot and saw the victim lying on the ground.
Park security and EMTs responded and performed CPR until Teal was taken to the hospital, Six Flags Over Texas wrote in a statement on social media.
Officers detained multiple people at the scene. They stopped a car full of teenagers suspected to be involved in the fight. Investigators were working to determine if they were involved in the killing and what led to the fight.
Kiarria McClain, who was visiting the park Wednesday night, told the Star-Telegram that she started running when other people did. She heard gunshots and people screaming, followed shortly by an announcement from Hurricane Harbor telling guests to seek shelter in buildings.
Life guards were ushering children inside and helping them hide, McClain said. They were inside for about 30 minutes before they were told police had people in custody.
“We have been informed that a 16-year-old guest that was involved in tonight’s incident outside of Hurricane Harbor has died,” Six Flags Over Texas wrote in a statement Wednesday night. “Our deepest sympathies are with the victim’s family.”
Police asked anyone who witnessed the shooting or has information, photos or video connected to the killing to call Detective Simmons at 817-459-5735. A person with a tip can remain anonymous by calling Tarrant County Crime Stoppers at 817-469-8477.
Staff writer James Hartley contributed to this report.
This story was originally published June 24, 2021 at 9:48 AM.
