Nonprofit plans memorial park to honor fallen Dallas Police Officer Darron Burks

Published

3 days ago

March 20, 2025

Nonprofit plans memorial park to honor fallen Dallas Police Officer Darron Burks

Taylor Toynes says he started thinking of ways to honor the life of Dallas Police Officer Darron Burks in the immediate weeks following his death.

“It’s important that people can come in and sit down with what took place but also see hope,” Toynes said.

The founder of ‘For Oak Cliff’ said fundraising efforts started earlier this year for a memorial park at the nonprofit’s location at 907 E. Ledbetter Drive.

“I think it’s important for it to be here because of the events that happened here,” Toynes said.

Burks was parked at ‘For Oak Cliff,’ completing work in his patrol car and waiting for his next assignment when the rookie officer was ambushed by a suspect in August 2024.

Two other Dallas PD officers were shot by the suspect responding to the scene. Both survived but Sr. Cpl. Karissa David was left blind in both eyes.

Burks worked as a teacher for 17 years before changing careers and entering law enforcement in his early 40’s.

Toynes says the memorial park will honor his life as an educator, athlete and public servant with spaces for play, reflection and artwork.

“It’s not just something that people walk up to and see but it’s also something that people can interact with and have fun and learn and build community at the same time,” Toynes said.

Toynes said ‘For Oak Cliff’ did not move forward with the project until it had support from both Burks’ mother and the Dallas Police Department.

Dallas PD said Thursday in a statement Burks’ unwavering commitment to serving and protecting the city made a lasting impact.

“Officer Burks’ legacy will forever remain etched in the heart of the city he loved, and he will always be remembered as a true hero,” a spokesperson said.

“We are honored to see Officer Burks’ memory live on through the legacy he left behind.”

Toynes said he estimates the project will be completed in three phases and will cost upwards of $300,000 to complete.

“I have faith in the city of Dallas and the philanthropic community here,” Toynes said.

The fundraising effort is ongoing through the Community Foundations of Texas and the North Texas Giving Day campaign.

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One woman dead after early Sunday morning shooting in West Dallas

Published

8 hours ago

March 23, 2025

Press Room

One woman dead after early Sunday morning shooting in West Dallas

Julia is a breaking news reporter with the Dallas Morning News. She is a Louisiana native and a graduate of the University of Mississippi where she studied journalism and public policy. She previously covered education for Mississippi Today in Jackson, Miss.

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Dallas, TX

Dallas faces Brooklyn, aims to stop road skid

Published

20 hours ago

March 23, 2025

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Dallas faces Brooklyn, aims to stop road skid

Associated Press

Dallas Mavericks (34-37, 11th in the Western Conference) vs. Brooklyn Nets (23-48, 13th in the Eastern Conference)

New York; Monday, 7:30 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Dallas will try to end its three-game road skid when the Mavericks face Brooklyn.

The Nets are 11-22 in home games. Brooklyn is fourth in the Eastern Conference in team defense, giving up only 111.4 points while holding opponents to 47.8% shooting.

The Mavericks have gone 14-21 away from home. Dallas has a 15-19 record in games decided by 10 or more points.

The Nets are shooting 43.8% from the field this season, 3.0 percentage points lower than the 46.8% the Mavericks allow to opponents. The Mavericks average 12.9 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.1 fewer makes per game than the Nets allow.

TOP PERFORMERS: Nic Claxton is averaging 10 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks for the Nets. Cameron Johnson is averaging 15.9 points over the last 10 games.

Kyrie Irving is scoring 24.7 points per game with 4.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists for the Mavericks. Naji Marshall is averaging 22.2 points and 8.3 rebounds while shooting 51.5% over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Nets: 2-8, averaging 107.9 points, 42.3 rebounds, 26.3 assists, 7.5 steals and 4.6 blocks per game while shooting 44.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 110.5 points per game.

Mavericks: 2-8, averaging 115.6 points, 37.9 rebounds, 25.4 assists, 7.0 steals and 3.1 blocks per game while shooting 48.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 127.6 points.

INJURIES: Nets: D’Angelo Russell: day to day (ankle), Ziaire Williams: day to day (hamstring), De’Anthony Melton: out for season (acl), Cam Thomas: out for season (hamstring).

Mavericks: Anthony Davis: out (adductor), Daniel Gafford: out (knee), Kessler Edwards: day to day (not injury related), Dante Exum: out (hand), Kyrie Irving: out for season (knee), Caleb Martin: day to day (hip), Dereck Lively II: out (ankle), Olivier-Maxence Prosper: out for season (wrist).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Dallas, TX

Suspect wanted for January 2025 Dallas murder already in custody on unrelated charge, police say

Published

1 day ago

March 22, 2025

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Suspect wanted for January 2025 Dallas murder already in custody on unrelated charge, police say

CBS News Texas

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A suspect wanted in connection with a January murder has been charged in the case, and Dallas Police said, he was already in jail.

Jorge Alberto Flores, 26, has been charged with capital murder in the death of 68-year-old Jack Tomlin.

What happened in January?

On Jan. 30, Dallas police officers responded to a health and welfare check at a home in the 600 block of Tenna Loma Court.

When Dallas Fire-Rescue arrived and made entry, they found Tomlin dead.

DPD didn’t release the cause of Tomlin’s death and said the investigation is ongoing.

On March 21, DPD said Flores was already in the Dallas County Jail on an unrelated charge.

Briauna Brown

Briauna Brown is a digital content producer for CBS Texas. A longtime and versatile journalist, Briauna writes, edits and produces social media content for all CBS Texas digital platforms.

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