Two Teens Murdered In Drug Deal Gone Bad, Shooters At Large

MESQUITE, TX — Police in Mesquite are asking for help finding two men who shot and killed two teenagers in a drug deal gone wrong.

Several people called police to report hearing gunshots around 4:00 p.m. Tuesday afternoon near the area of Gus Thomasson Road at Whitson Way, police said. When officers arrived, 19-year-old Jacob Bradley Hollett and 18-year-old Dalton James Prater were found with gunshot wounds.

Prater was pronounced dead at the scene, and Hollett was taken to a local hospital, where he later died.

Police have identified two suspects in the shooting, which they believe was a drug deal-turned-robbery. In a statement police said investigators believe the teenage victims intended to sell marijuana to the suspects, who then fired the shots.

The first suspect is described as a black man in his early 20s. Police say he stands around 6-foot-1 and has a "box cut" hairstyle, a medium build and a medium skin tone.

The second suspect is also described as a black man with dreadlocks and a dark skin tone.

Authorities say the first suspect pulled a handgun and demanded the victims hand over the marijuana. As Hollett tried to drive away, he was shot several times.

Prater was sitting nearby in a red pickup truck. The first suspect fired, and Prater was shot several times before the pair fled, police allege.

The suspects fled in a white, late model Jeep Patriot.

A GoFundMe campaign was created to help Prater's family with funeral costs and other expenses. It raised $3,100 in 14 hours.

Crime Stoppers will pay up to $5000.00 for information called into Crime Stoppers that leads to the arrest and indictment for this felony offense. If you have information about this crime, call Crime Stoppers at (214) 373-TIPS; or contact Mesquite Police at 972-285-6336.

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