ARLINGTON, Texas – A 16-year-old boy from Texas was fatally shot days after breaking up a fight involving a bully who has been charged with his murder, according to reports.
The teenage murder victim was identified as Sam Reynolds.
“And after he broke up the fight, he started having some trouble with the suspect,” said Arlington Police Lt. Chris Cook.
Police said the accused killer is a teen between 13 and 15, WFAA-TV reported.
Cook said Reynolds was shot Thursday in a crime caught on camera at the Pinewoods Apartment complex where he and the suspect lived.
Pinewoods Apartments in Arlington, Texas. (Google)
Reynolds was seen walking in his apartment complex when the suspect, who’d just dropped off groceries in another apartment, walked up, police said.
“Within just a matter of a couple of seconds, he pulls out a handgun from the rear part of his pants,” Cook said. “He points it at the victim and fires one round.”
Reynolds, a sophomore at Arlington High School, died at the hospital.
Police have not recovered the .40 caliber handgun that was used in the homicide.
Sam’s family said he intervened in the fight to protect a smaller boy, the station reported.
He was shot in the chest, Fox 4 Dallas reported.
The station reported that Reynolds was remembered Friday evening at a candlelight vigil at Arlington High School, where he was a sophomore.
His mother, Madison Fletcher, told the gathering, “Just, you know, celebrate his life and his memory and, you know, who he was,” according to WFAA.
“He was so compassionate and cared so much about his friends and family. He was passionate about soccer and music. He was very loyal and had a great sense of humor,” Fletcher said.
“I love Sammie. I’ve loved him a lot since he was little,” family friend, Robert, said at the vigil.
“He is kind, and he’s very outgoing, and he would do anything to support his friends and those he felt close to,” Reynolds’ friend, Russell Laniyan, said.
