Teen Shot, Killed Following Trail Ride/Concert Filled With Incidents

Party Wagon Collapses Injuring Several, Gates Knocked Down by Crowd Injuring Another

A 19-year-old man died Sunday morning after a shooting at the Real Deal Family Reunion Trail Ride near Nechanitz.

Lt. David Beyer of the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office reported that the shooting took place during a fight near the concert stage in the early morning hours of Sunday, Sept. 28.

Beyer said Sheriff Keith Korenek happened to be near the stage as part of the security operation for the event. Korenek found the victim, but an ambulance could not reach the location due to the massive crowd. Korenek loaded the victim into his vehicle and took him to an ambulance.

Fayette County EMS called for a helicopter, and the victim was flown to Dell Seton Medical Center in Austin in critical condition. Beyer reported that the victim succumbed to his injuries at the hospital around 9:30 a.m. on Sunday.

Beyer said the Sheriff’s Office is working with the Texas Rangers to identify the suspect. The victim has not yet been named. The shooting concluded an event where law enforcement struggled to maintain order. The trail ride, campout and concert took place in a pasture off FM 3011 near Nechanitz.

Fayette County officials required the organizers to obtain a mass gathering permit for this year’s trail ride following complaints from neighbors about loud music, litter and traffic issues at last year’s event. Fayette County Emergency Management Coordinator Angela Hahn said organizers estimated a crowd of about 7,000 people over three days when they applied for the permit. Beyer said the crowd Saturday night far exceeded that number. Admission was $25.

Law enforcement and EMS personnel dealt with numerous incidents throughout the day on Saturday before the shooting. Earlier in the day, when the trail ride started, a double-decker party wagon collapsed, injuring some people who were riding on it. Fayette County EMS Director Josh Vandever said seven people were taken to area hospitals in stable condition.

Vandever said EMS crews treated other patients throughout the day.

“Everything from people that got into a fight and just needed to be checked out, to respiratory issues due to all of the dust,” Vandever said.

A live music concert was supposed to end at 1 a.m. However, Beyer said the Sheriff ordered the music to be cut off at 11:15 p.m. after the crowd became increasingly out of control. Authorities tried closing the gates around 10 p.m. However, Beyer said a crowd of about 200 people “bum rushed” the gates and knocked them down. One event staffer was injured in that incident, he said.

Beyer said people trying to get into the event after it was shut down ignored officers working traffic control and drove through ditches to enter. Traffic was so backed up coming in and out of the event that some people cut a hole in a fence to leave.

“The officers did the best they could with all of the resources that we asked for,” said Ronald Addison, president of the Real Deal Family Reunion. “But the crowd didn’t listen.”

Addison said event organizers complied with the Sheriff’s order to shut down.

As for the shooting, he said, “The gun shot was stated to have happened around 1 a.m. or something which was after the event was shut down. But we’re praying for the family.”

Roderick Devaughn, another organizer, urged anyone who witnessed the shooting to contact the Sheriff’s Office.

“Someone lost their life last night,” Devaughn said in a post on Facebook. “And I won’t go into a lot of details, but I’ll tell whomever the person is did it, that I’m really disappointed in you. You took the life of an innocent young man and that wasn’t cool and a real coward move. And I’m urging anyone that knows who it is to tell.And yes I said contact the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, Texas - Sheriff Keith Korenek and tell them. Because if it was one of my three son’s I’d ask you all to do the same for me. So on behalf of myself, Ronnie, and the entire Real Deal family, we send out our heartfelt condolences to that young man’s family. And we’re deeply sorry for your loss.”

Beyer said officers arrested at least four people on weapons- related offenses. Officers are also investigating several other criminal cases, Beyer said, including vehicle burglaries and at least one assault.

Addison said organizers were on site Sunday picking up litter on the property and along the roads in the area. He said traffic issues during the trail ride on Saturday were exacerbated by the fact that someone removed the covering they placed over the metal grate bridge on Owl Creek Rd. Horses had to be walked across.

Beyer said Sheriff Korenek wished to thank the Lavaca County Sheriff’s Office, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Game Wardens from Lee County, Texas Department of Public Safety, Lavaca County EMS, and Colorado County EMS, and Fayette County EMS, who all assisted at the event over the weekend.