On October 15, 2023, at approximately 2:37 a.m., Denton police officers responded to reports of a shooting in the parking lot of Fred Moore High School, located in the 800 block of Cross Timber Street. Upon arrival, they discovered two adult males with life-threatening gunshot wounds. Both individuals were transported to local hospitals, where 30-year-old Edron Tu-Ray Slaughter was pronounced deceased. The second victim, a 26-year-old male whose identity has not been publicly disclosed, remained hospitalized in critical condition.
Investigations revealed that a verbal altercation had occurred prior to the shooting. It is believed that during this dispute, the 26-year-old male produced a firearm and shot Slaughter. Subsequently, evidence suggests that at least two additional individuals fired weapons during the incident.
Detectives identified 22-year-old Daviune Hardy and 38-year-old Robert Coffey as suspects who allegedly shot the 26-year-old male, inflicting life-threatening injuries.
On October 18, 2023, arrest warrants for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon were issued for both Hardy and Coffey. By the following evening, both suspects had been located and taken into custody. The 26-year-old male, alleged to have shot Slaughter, remained hospitalized in critical condition. Authorities indicated the possibility of additional shooters involved in the incident and continued to investigate. The Denton Police Department urged anyone with further information to contact Detective Chris Curtis at 940-349-7994 or to report anonymously via Denton County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-388-TIPS (8477).
In the wake of this tragic event, the community mourned the loss of Edron Tu-Ray Slaughter. Born on April 4, 1993, in Denton, Texas, to Connie Madison and Eddie Slaughter Sr., Edron was remembered as a loving and caring individual with a great heart. A funeral service was held on October 28, 2023, at Morse Street Baptist Church in Denton, where family and friends gathered to honor his memory.
