08-03-2010, 05:20 PM
Their relatives, who couldn't swim either, LOOKED ON HELPLESSLY :fyou: as six struggling teens screamed for help, then vanished and drowned.
DeKendrix Warner, the 15-year-old who was the first to fall in, was rescued by a bystander.
"I stepped and I started drowning," he said from his impoverished, inner-city Shreveport home in a low voice, his eyes staring at the ground.
The large group of family and friends had gathered for an afternoon of swimming and barbecuing in the oppressive heat. The group had only been at the river for about 10 minutes when tragedy struck -- they didn't even have time to set up the barbecue.
Those who drowned were identified as the Warners: 13-year-old Takeitha and her older brothers, 14-year-old JaMarcus and 17-year-old JaTavious. The others were the Stewarts: 18-year-old Litrelle, 17-year-old LaDairus and 15-year-old Latevin.
DeKendrix Warner, the 15-year-old who was the first to fall in, was rescued by a bystander.
"I stepped and I started drowning," he said from his impoverished, inner-city Shreveport home in a low voice, his eyes staring at the ground.
The large group of family and friends had gathered for an afternoon of swimming and barbecuing in the oppressive heat. The group had only been at the river for about 10 minutes when tragedy struck -- they didn't even have time to set up the barbecue.
Those who drowned were identified as the Warners: 13-year-old Takeitha and her older brothers, 14-year-old JaMarcus and 17-year-old JaTavious. The others were the Stewarts: 18-year-old Litrelle, 17-year-old LaDairus and 15-year-old Latevin.