DALLAS, Texas – A 17-year-old man is in custody after being accused of fatally shooting a 17-year-old high school junior in Southern Dallas on Sunday morning. The victim, Ikea Imari Hood, was a mother to a three-week-old infant girl and a junior at Lancaster High School. The suspect, Trevon Darnell Wright, was the baby’s father and Hood’s on-and-off again boyfriend, according to her family.
Wright was taken into custody by a U.S. Marshals Task Force and issued a murder warrant on Monday. A bond amount has not yet been set and it’s unclear if he has obtained an attorney to speak on his behalf. The motive for the shooting remains unknown, and it is unclear how Wright and Hood knew each other, as the investigation continues.
Hood’s family has expressed shock and grief over the tragic loss of their loved one. Her seven siblings and other family members are rallying around each other to cope with the devastating loss. They described Hood as a beautiful, talented, and loving young woman who had recently given birth to a baby girl named Ice’Lynn.
The 17-year-old was a junior at Lancaster High School, where she was a member of the school’s Tigerette Drill Team and had aspirations of graduating, going to college, and dancing on the collegiate level. According to her dance instructor, she had the ability to accomplish those goals before her life was tragically cut short. The school has announced it will be providing counseling and grief services for students and staff at the high school.
There will be a balloon release and funeral services are set to take place in honor of Ikea Hood. The family has also set up a GoFundMe account to help pay for funeral services and baby essentials. Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact the Dallas Police Department.