DALLAS – Saint Andrews United Methodist Church wants to help neighbors in need.
“We knew as soon as we heard what was going on that our community was shifting into a place of mourning,” Pastor Kristin Warthen said.
Warthen said the church has historical ties to Bowie High School in Arlington. Students and staff used to come over and eat. The two facilities are less than two miles apart.
Arlington police said Etavion Barnes was shot to death by Julian Howard outside of the school. It’s a deadly shooting that turned an 18-year-old into a murder victim and a 17-year-old into a murder suspect.
“I cannot imagine the pain his family is going through,” Warthen said. “I cannot imagine the pain the assailant’s family is going through … and so we hold all of them in prayer.”
Investigators said there was more speculation than proof for the shooting motive. The impact of the killing is evident. Students had to wait for houses inside the school during a lockdown. Parents, in the meantime, watched the hours pass by before students went home.