Dallas-Fort Worth briefs

Wed. November 05, 2008; Posted: 09:52 AM

Police say slaying

may be drug-related

Tony Williams, 26, was shot and killed during a robbery at his apartment shortly before 9 p.m. Sunday. Dallas police said they were investigating whether the shooting was drug-related.

The robbery took place in the 7000 block of Hunnicut Road at the Mayan Palms apartment complex south of Interstate 30 and west of North Jim Miller Road. Mr. Williams was transferred to Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas, where he died of a gunshot wound, police said.

From staff reports

Dallas

State Baptist group

may change its name

The Baptist General Convention of Texas is considering changing its name to the Texas Baptist Convention.

A committee of the Dallas-based BGCT, the state's largest Baptist group, unanimously recommended the change. A first vote will occur at the BGCT's annual meeting next week in Fort Worth. The proposal requires a two-thirds majority vote at consecutive annual meetings, meaning no change can take effect before late 2009.

The BGCT has had its name since the late 1880s, with the merger of the Baptist State Convention and the Baptist General Association of Texas.

"We felt that 'Texas Baptist Convention' better described who we are," said the Rev. Stephen Hatfield, pastor of First Baptist Church of Lewisville and co-chairman of the committee proposing the change. "We call ourselves 'Texas Baptists' anyway."

Sam Hodges

FLOWER MOUND

Smoking ban OK'd

for restaurants, bars

Starting next year, smokers won't be able to light up in Flower Mound restaurants, bars or public parks under an ordinance adopted by the Town Council on Monday night.

The ordinance, which will take effect Jan. 1, bans smoking in any public building or within 25 feet of any opening to a public building or place. Hotels, however, could designate up to 10 percent of guest rooms as smoking rooms.

Violations can result in a fine of up to $500.

Stephanie Sandoval

GARLAND

Officer dies after fall

during hunting trip

A Garland police officer died last weekend after falling from a deer stand during a hunting trip with his son and two other officers in Snyder.

Keith Prinz, 42, of Rockwall died Saturday after he lost his grip while spraying for wasps. He fell from the deer stand and was impaled on a metal fence post, Scurry County Sheriff Darren Jackson said.

Officer Prinz was a 23-year veteran of the Garland police force, according to his obituary. Funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m. today at First Baptist Church, 610 S. Goliad St. in Rockwall.

Taylor Short

RED BIRD

2 being questioned in

kidnapping, slaying

Dallas police are questioning two men after the kidnapping and fatal shooting of a 27-year-old man. Investigators believe the crime was drug-related.

At about 2:45 a.m., a woman reported that several men took her husband, Darius Dawson, by gunpoint in the 7500 block of Buford Drive in southeast Oak Cliff, Dallas police Senior Cpl. Kevin Janse said.

As officers questioned the woman, they received a report of gunfire at Coleshire Drive and Starky Street just across Interstate 35E and Camp Wisdom Road in the Red Bird area. Police searched the area on foot and by helicopter but did not find an injured person.

At about 6 a.m., officers returned to the area when a woman taking out trash spotted a body between two parked cars.

Dallas investigators were searching for others in the case.

Steve Thompson

WEST OAK CLIFF

Man, 75, is robbed,

beaten with hammer

A 75-year-old man who was robbed and beaten with a hammer late Monday may not survive, police say.

Delbert Wayne Parr came home from cashing a Social Security check and grocery shopping about 9 p.m. When he staggered inside his home bloody, his wife called 911.

Dallas police found the door to his Nissan pickup open outside his home in the 4500 block of Wyoming Street. A bloody metal claw hammer lay on the ground nearby, and about $1,400 in Social Security money was missing.

When paramedics checked on Mr. Parr, he at first refused their help.

"Leave me," he told them, according to a police report. "I want to stay here."

But soon he was unconscious, and paramedics took him to a local hospital. He had suffered critical head injuries.

Police said it appeared that someone may have followed Mr. Parr home. They are investigating whether the attack is related to another last month.

On Oct. 20, 84-year-old Jack Boles was robbed and severely beaten inside his home in the 2900 block of Southwood Drive. He survived.

"There are similarities," homicide Sgt. Bruce McDonald said, "and it's in pretty close proximity."

Anyone with information is asked to call the Dallas police homicide unit at 214-671-3661 or e-mail homicide @dpd.dallascityhall.com.

Steve Thompson

WHITE ROCK LAKE

Third person hit

by car is identified

Dallas police on Tuesday identified the third victim injured when a car struck three half-marathon runners after they finished a race at White Rock Lake on Sunday morning.

Jay Newton, 28, a Fort Worth attorney, suffered two broken legs and other injuries when Brandy Lynn Hopkins, 31, tried to turn from northbound Buckner Boulevard onto westbound Northwest Highway and hit him, police said.

Also struck and injured were Eric Nelson, 38, a local news editor at The Dallas Morning News, and Mary Oliver, 49, a Dallas teacher. Both remained hospitalized Tuesday.

It remained unclear whether Ms. Hopkins would face charges. She was cited for driving with a suspended or revoked license and not having insurance. Police said she told investigators that her brakes failed and she lost control of the car.

Scott Goldstein

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