Friends Mourn Arlington H.S. Student As Shooting Investigated
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ARLINGTON (CBSDFW.COM) - Friends mourned the loss of a popular Arlington high school student Tuesday.
Police say Carl Wilson was gunned down in the street Monday, after some kind of an argument occurred during lunch at James Martin High School. A vigil is planned at the school Tuesday evening.
Detectives spent the day interviewing witnesses and combing through social media conversations -- looking for clues.
Meanwhile, police maintained an obvious presence at Martin High. Grief counselors were also on hand for students and staff members.
Investigators believe the fatal shooting was somehow connected to that school disagreement, but they don't know what argument was about.
Wilson was shot to death in nearby Kennedale and police say tips are still coming in.
Speaking about the search for suspects Kennedale police Chief Tommy Williams said, "We have no way of knowing if they're students, ex-students, friends of students. Witnesses have told us that what occurred yesterday afternoon was the result of an altercation at school. What relation our suspect or suspects had to the victim at this point, we just don't know."
Friends say Wilson faced the world with a smile and was always ready with an encouraging word. Friend True Gibson remembers the 18-year-old speaking words to power. "Stand straight up and keep running. Gotta keep moving to stay strong."
Gibson befriended Wilson at a summer football camp. Now he is stunned that that the teen's life has been cut short, "over nothing, nothing at all."
The search for a suspect or suspects also has students and faculty wondering if Wilson's killer is somewhere among them.
Describing the atmosphere Martin High Principal Marlene Roddy said, "We don't know if there are students on our campus that were specially involved in this shooting. That creates a more confusing and scary element to campus at this point."
As far as help and cooperation from youngsters, Chief Williams said, "The thing that's most troubling to me is people who feel like they can go to social media and allow their emotions to carry them away and to make statements that appear on the surface to be the truth. But they're talking on social media and not the police."
Understandably, the Wilson family was too distraught to give an on-camera interview, but did want the public to know that the community prayers and support are appreciated.
The vigil for Wilson will be held at the site of the fatal shooting, in the 6300 block of Treepoint Drive, at 5:30 p.m.
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