On September 20, 2023, 17-year-old Lewisville High School student, Skylar Ashton Marquel Linson, was fatally shot in the parking lot of a Raising Cane's restaurant near the school. The incident occurred shortly after 4 p.m., just as classes had concluded for the day. Linson sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was transported to Medical City Lewisville, where he was pronounced dead.
The assailant, identified only as a juvenile male not enrolled at Lewisville High School, approached the scene in a vehicle, exited, and fired multiple shots at Linson before fleeing. A witness followed the suspect's vehicle and alerted authorities, leading to the suspect's apprehension in Carrollton, approximately eight miles from the crime scene. Police have indicated that the shooting was targeted, suggesting that Linson and the suspect were acquainted.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, Linson's mother, Aleasha Parks, expressed profound grief and called for an end to youth gun violence. She described her son as a hardworking senior with aspirations in music, who balanced his studies with a job at Whataburger. The Lewisville Independent School District responded by providing specialized counseling services to support students and staff affected by the incident.
The juvenile suspect was taken into custody shortly after the shooting. Due to his age, authorities have withheld his identity. The investigation is ongoing, with police working to determine the exact motive behind the shooting. The community continues to mourn the loss of a young life, while discussions about youth violence and safety persist.
