This is a true tragedy unfolding in the lone-star state.
According to a report published by the Dallas News, Dallas police have charged Madison high school basketball star, Johnathan Tramaine Turner-19 (left), with murder, in connection with the beating death of Troy Causey Jr.-18, another talented ball player at a different high school. The two were living together because Causey Jr.’s mother initially felt her son would have a better chance at furthering his basketball dreams by staying with Turner and his family.
Causey Jr. was found on March 23rd, severely beaten outside of his home, left in a coma that he would never recover from. He died the next day.
Police were first told that Causey Jr. was attacked by strangers who ran away, but further investigation led authorities to believe the incident involved those who were inside the house at the time of the beating.
According to an arrest warrant affidavit, two days later Turner and Willie Hollins, an 18-year-old cousin of Causey’s who lived at the home, gave investigators a different version of what happened. They said that Turner and Causey argued over a video game. The two took their squabble outside, where Turner punched Causey, causing him to fall and hit his head.
Turner and Hollins said Causey began “tensing up,” and they took him back inside the house, where they called 911.
According to the affidavit, investigators were suspicious of Turner and Hollins’ account, and it didn’t match the evidence they found. Causey’s autopsy report said he died from blunt force trauma, not from his head hitting the ground. Blood spatter and other evidence indicated that he was beaten even after he was on the ground.
But authorities were unable to make an arrest until Thursday, when police located a new witness. That person told police that Turner admitted to him that he was involved in the fight and had kicked Causey in the head when he was on the ground. The witness also implicated another person in the attack, but authorities did not identify that person Monday.
They said that there may be additional suspects and that detectives will continue to investigate the case.
“Therefore we continue our request and our plea that anyone with information as to the identity of additional suspects or the assault of Troy Causey, detectives would like to speak with them,” said Maj. Max Geron, Dallas police spokesman.
Both of these young men presumably had bright futures in basketball. Johnathan Turner, a 6’7 power forward on Madison’s state championship-winning team, averaged a double-double and dreamed of playing professional ball. The victim, Troy Causey Jr. was a 6’6 small forward at neighboring Wilmer-Hutchins high school. He was all set to sign his letter of intent to play at Seminole State College, in Oklahoma, on full scholarship.
Very sad indeed.