Etavion Barnes Obituary:
The 17-year-old suspect in the fatal shooting of an 18-year-old classmate outside Arlington’s Bowie High School on Wednesday afternoon has been identified as Julian Howard. Arlington police announced in a statement on Thursday morning that Howard had been taken into custody and charged with murder in connection to the death of Etavion Barnes.
Both Howard and Barnes were students at the high school, according to the Arlington ISD. While authorities have not disclosed a motive for the shooting, they believe that Howard deliberately targeted Barnes. Howard, who was apprehended on Wednesday afternoon, has declined to cooperate with investigators without legal representation.
He is currently being held in the Arlington City Jail, with no bond amount set for the murder charge. It remains unclear whether Howard has retained legal counsel.
Police officers at the high school responded to reports of gunfire around 3 p.m. and discovered Barnes lying outside near a portable building.
Despite efforts to revive him, Barnes succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at Medical City Arlington. Howard was unarmed at the time of his arrest but was found in possession of a THC cartridge. The murder weapon has not been located, and authorities are investigating how Howard may have obtained a firearm. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
In response to the tragedy, the Arlington ISD has canceled classes at Bowie High School for Thursday and Friday, with counselors available to provide support to students and staff. Counseling services will be offered on Friday from 9 a.m. to noon and will continue next week. The school will be open from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
