A $5,000 reward is being offered for information in the murder of a 14-year-old boy shot and killed Wednesday afternoon in Oak Cliff.
Rubin Lee Washington was shot just before 1 p.m. along the 3800 block of South Tyler Street. After officers arrived at the location, Washington was transported to Methodist Central Hospital by Dallas Fire-Rescue where he was pronounced deceased.
"He was a good, loving baby," said Terenzia Gentry, Washington's mother. "He didn’t deserve to be gone. I need someone to find who killed my baby."
Gentry last saw her son shortly before the shooting. She said he was sent home from school early. She left him at their Oak Cliff apartment, but received a call shortly after that he was shot in the breezeway not far from their front door.
"I just want to know who did it, why? Because he’s an innocent kid, a loveable kid. He didn’t deserve this," said Gentry.
Washington was the oldest of four siblings. His family asked for the community's prayers.
"He was just a happy little boy. He just played a lot. He make you happy when you down," said Kimberly Palmer, Washington's aunt.
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Dallas police said several witnesses were present when Washington was shot and are actively investigating the case.
NBC 5 has confirmed Washington was an 8th grade student at W.H. Atwell Law Academy, which is about 1.5 miles away from the scene of the shooting. Officials with the Dallas Independent School District said they had grief counselors at the school Thursday for students and faculty. They also added that students planned to wear school colors on Friday in Washington's memory and hold a balloon release in his memory.
Students spent part of the day on Thursday making banners and cards for Washington's family. DISD said administrators planned to deliver them later in the day.
Police have not yet confirmed a motive for the shooting; no arrests have been made and no suspects have been revealed.
Homicide detectives are asking that anyone with information regarding this incident contact Det. Tabor with the Dallas Police Department Homicide Unit at 214-671-3605, or brian.tabor@dallascityhall.com. Please reference case #070982-2019.
Crime Stoppers will pay up to $5,000 for information called into Crime Stoppers that leads to the arrest and indictment for this felony offense and other felony offenses. Call Crime Stoppers at 214-373-TIPS (8477), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
