SHREVEPORT, La. — Seven teenagers from two families were splashing around in the shallow waters of the Red River when one of them stepped off a slippery ledge and plummeted into much deeper water. The others tried to save the boy, even though none could swim, but they too were swallowed by the water 20 to 30 feet deep.
Their relatives, who couldn’t swim either, looked on helplessly as six struggling teens screamed for help, vanished and drowned Monday afternoon.
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 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 been at the river for about 10 minutes when tragedy struck — they didn’t even have time to set up the barbecue.
DeKendrix said he was kicking and felt like the river was pulling him under. When he was finally pulled from the water, he told his rescuer to go help his cousin.
Those who drowned were Takeitha, JaMarcus and JaTavious Warner; and Latevin, LaDairus and Litrelle Stewart. Their ages ranged from 13 to 18.
The area where the drowning occurred, though not a designated recreational or swimming area, is often frequented by swimmers and boaters. There are no lifeguards on duty.
“The river is a dangerous place. It’s no place to even put your foot in if you don’t know how to swim,” said Shreveport Fire Chief Brian Crawford.
Swimming skills can be scarce among African-Americans such as the teens in this tragedy. A study commissioned by the sports governing body USA Swimming found 69 percent of black children had low or no swimming ability, compared with 41.8 percent of white children.
Segregation kept blacks out of public and private pools for decades, and the disparity continues because many poor and working-class children have limited access to pools or instruction.
