Crisis Counselors At Lake Highlands High After Teen Killed
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - A Lake Highlands High School student has died after what investigators believe was an accidental shooting. Today students, faculty and staff are grieving the loss of 14-year-old Azeneth Pina.
Students on Thursday said whether they knew Azeneth personally or not they are having a hard time with the loss. A senior at the school said, "It has been sad and gloomy. Honestly because I mean, she was well known, she was well known and it's just upsetting.
Sources tell CBS 11 News that grief counselors will be available at the school for the remainder of the week. A letter sent home to parents said Azeneth was "well-liked by all of her classmates and teachers."
Sources tell NewsRadio 1080 KRLD that a group of teenagers were driving around in a van in northeast Dallas when a 16-year-old in the group pulled out a gun. The weapon was allegedly fired accidentally and the bullet hit Azeneth, she was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
The teens panicked and threw the gun into a creek, where a dive team recovered it on Wednesday. The group of youngsters are said to have later confessed to exactly what happened.
Funeral services are pending for Azeneth Pina, who was a freshman at Lake Highlands. Richardson Independent School District administrators have a crisis counseling team speaking with students.
The teenager who fired the gun, who was not a student at Lake Highlands, is facing manslaughter charges.