Round Rock, Texas – A teenager has been taken into custody by the Round Rock police in connection with a shooting that resulted in the tragic deaths of two women and left as many as 14 others injured during a Juneteenth celebration at Old Settlers Park. The 17-year-old suspect, Ricky Thompson III, was apprehended by a fugitive task force in Pflugerville early Thursday morning and is currently being held at the Williamson County Jail on a charge of felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to Round Rock Chief of Police Allen Banks.
Authorities believe that Thompson was involved in a shooting incident where multiple individuals were firing at each other, leading to the fatalities of Lyndsey Vicknair, an attorney from Mansfield, and Ara Duke, an individual working in education in Austin, as well as injuries to several innocent bystanders. The investigation is ongoing, with the police revealing that Thompson was the individual wearing a white hoodie, sought by investigators. They anticipate making additional arrests and filing more charges as the case progresses.
In a statement released by the Vicknair family, they expressed gratitude towards law enforcement for their efforts in the case and urged those responsible for the shooting to surrender to the police. The family highlighted their appreciation for the support received during a challenging time and issued a call for accountability from the perpetrators. Meanwhile, plans for a private wake in Mansfield on Friday evening followed by a celebration of Lyndsey Vicknair’s life on Saturday have been set in motion for family and friends to pay their respects.
Chief Banks mentioned that the families of the victims were briefed about the arrest on Thursday morning, assuring them that investigators are diligently working on bringing justice for their loved ones. While details of the investigation remain limited for the sake of its integrity, officials believe that the shooting stemmed from a confrontation between two groups attending the Juneteenth celebration. Authorities are urging anyone with information related to the incident to come forward to aid in the ongoing inquiry.