Teen dies; shooting suspect ID’d

PINE BLUFF — A student injured during Monday’s shooting on the Watson Chapel Junior High School campus died Wednesday, officials said.

Daylon Burnett, 15, was seriously wounded by a gunman and had been taken Monday to Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock. In a Facebook post Wednesday evening, his mother wrote, “Y’all my boy got his wings at 5:35 [p.m.]”

Police Department spokesman Lt. David DeFoor said the Pulaski County coroner’s office confirmed the victim of the school shooting was pronounced dead Wednesday evening.

In a statement issued on Facebook, the Watson Chapel School District wrote, “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.”

Another student, 15year-old Thomas Quarles, was identified during a probable-cause hearing Wednesday morning as the suspected

gunman. Quarles was arrested Monday shortly after the shooting, but authorities hadn’t publicly identified him prior to the hearing.

Prosecutor Kyle Hunter said during Wednesday morning’s hearing authorities were seeking a first-degree battery charge, but noted the state would seek a homicide charge if Burnett died.

Jefferson County District Court Judge Kim Bridgforth granted Hunter’s request Quarles be held on the $1 million secured bond.

The suspect’s appearance during the open proceeding of District Court — as opposed to the closed proceedings of juvenile court — for the purposes of the probable-cause hearing suggests prosecutors will seek to charge Quarles as an adult when formal charges are filed.

Watson Chapel Junior High School, which serves grades 7-9, entered an active-shooter protocol during the incident Monday, Police Chief Kelvin Sergeant said during a news conference earlier this week.

Authorities believe the shooting was a targeted incident and not a random act, Sergeant said Monday.

Bridgforth set Quarles’ next court appearance for April 12.

The probable cause affidavit is based on statements of Police Department detective Keith Banks, according to a copy of the document obtained from the prosecutor.

Referring to Banks’ affidavit, Hunter told the judge officers responded Monday morning to a reported shooting at the junior high school.

One officer reported when she entered the building by the principal’s office, she was met by school staff and shown to where the shooting occurred in a hall in front of the library.

A school nurse was administering medical aid to Burnett, who was breathing and had a slight pulse as the nurse applied pressure to the back of his head, Hunter told the judge.

Two .380-caliber shell casings were found next to Burnett, he said.

As officers cleared the school searching for gunmen, a student told detective Tamina Smith that Quarles shot Burnett, according to the affidavit.

Police obtained a description of Quarles’ clothing and learned he was last seen leaving toward Sulphur Springs Road, Hunter said.

A member of a police dog search team from the Arkansas Department of Correction encountered an individual in a burgundy shirt and khaki pants running beside a house at the end of East Greenway Drive, Hunter said.

As the police dog team approached the east side of a home, the individual was seen crouching behind an air conditioning unit, he said, and was identified as Quarles.

“He was instructed to lay on the ground and was taken into custody without incident,” Hunter said.

A black Ruger LCP handgun was found in Quarles’ right front pocket, along with a lighter in his left pocket and a black cellphone on the ground in the area. The items were taken as evidence, Hunter said.

After Quarles was taken to the Police Department and advised of his rights along with his mother, they asked for a lawyer, Hunter told the judge, and questioning ended.

According to the affidavit, Quarles was then taken to the Jack Jones Juvenile Justice Center.

Hunter said because of the seriousness of the act, the likelihood Quarles would leave the jurisdiction and “the condition of the victim in this case,” the state was requesting the $1 million bond.

The shooting coincided with the first day of in-person classes at the school since severe winter weather hit Arkansas last month.

In a statement addressed to students and parents posted Wednesday on Facebook, School District Superintendent Jerry Guess said in-person instruction at the school would resume today after two days of online instruction following the shooting.

Guess wrote additional security would be provided by the Police Department and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

“The Junior High staff have been on site all week delivering virtual instruction to our students and working to prepare for the return of students to the campus,” Guess wrote. “We think it is imperative that all students take advantage of the many, many professionals who will be present to provide counseling and guidance to our students as they return to school.”

According to Guess’ statement, counselors from other district schools, as well as private and public agencies, would be available. Local pastors, youth ministers and the Police Department’s chaplain unit also will be available.

“The events of this week have been tragic,” Guess wrote. “It has been a traumatic week for our students and our staff. I truly believe that students and staff will work together in the coming days to the best benefit of us all.”

As of Wednesday evening, a GoFundMe page set up on behalf of Burnett, “better known as DaeDae,” and his family had raised more than $6,000 of its $10,000 goal from 222 donors.