4 victims remembered at gathering
09:32 AM CST on Monday, March 15, 2004
By KATHERINE MORALES and IAN MCCANN / The Dallas Morning News
As Steve Wilson tried to think of a favorite memory of his son Austin York, he struggled to pick only one.
"They're all so good," he said, smiling through his tears at the family's McKinney home Sunday, less than two days after Austin, 18, and three others were fatally shot.
Mr. Wilson pointed to the family boat, sitting under a green tarp in their garage: "We spent so many good times on that boat."
Austin; friend and football teammate Matthew Self, 17; Rosa Barbosa, 46; and Mark Barbosa, 25, were killed Friday night, all by gunshots to the head. They were shot sometime before 9:40 p.m. at Ms. Barbosa's home on Truett Street south of Louisiana Street, where she lived with nephews Mark and Robert Barbosa. Three of them were found dead, and Matthew was flown to Baylor University Medical Center where he later died.
As police continued to search for leads in the case Sunday, parents, students and school board members attended a memorial at First Baptist Church of McKinney.
Pastors from several churches were at the service, and McKinney school board president Geralyn Kever offered a prayer and encouraged students to grieve.
"There are no words that adequately express the pain and anguish these kids are going through," she said. "We want each and every one of these kids to know how much they are loved."
Matthew and Austin, juniors at McKinney North High School, were with Mark Barbosa at the home of his mother, Basilia Barbosa, for dinner about 7 p.m. Friday. Both Matthew and Austin were friends of the Barbosas and played football with Mark and Robert's younger brothers, Lynard and Alex.
"We were all like family," Lynard said of Mark, Austin and Matthew. "I would spend nights over at [Austin's] house on school nights, and his little sister asked why she couldn't have friends over, too."
Police returned to the Barbosas' neighborhood to search for additional leads and to find people who might have heard or seen anything related to the shootings Friday night.
Crime scene tape remained at the home Sunday afternoon, and part of the street was still barricaded. A Department of Public Safety helicopter circled low overhead several times, taking aerial photographs of the home for detectives. Meanwhile, officers walked door-to-door asking neighbors questions.
McKinney police Capt. Robert Dean said police were looking for a Self family pickup believed to haven been taken by the shooter or shooters Friday night, a tan 1999 four-door Chevrolet truck with Texas license 3CPJ17 and extensive chrome detailing.
Motive unclear
Police also lack a suspected motive, Capt. Dean said.
"Investigators are following up several leads, but I really can't comment on much," he said.
Several friends and family members said at least one of the victims was bound with duct tape, which Capt. Dean said he could not confirm. He also declined to discuss details of the crime scene. Texas Rangers and Collin County sheriff's deputies are assisting McKinney police as they collect evidence and investigate the shootings.
"I can say that all four of them were not bound, gagged and shot execution-style," he said. "I can't talk about the crime scene until we're done processing it."
At Sunday's memorial, the second during the weekend at the church, school officials and at least 250 students, family and friends gathered to mourn.
Many of the teenagers gathered around tables, reminiscing about Matthew, Austin and Mark and crying in one another's arms. Bundles of tissue paper littered the tabletops.
Talking, sharing
McKinney police chaplain Rickey Hargrave offered condolences and encouraged the students and parents to talk about the incident and to share their memories of the victims.
"School is going to be tough for you tomorrow," he said. "I want all of you to know that they [McKinney police] are working around the clock to find out who did this horrible thing."
Most parents stood around the sidelines of a large basketball court inside the church and let their children talk through it with each other. One girl collapsed sobbing into her mother's arms.
This morning, McKinney North staff will meet before classes begin, and counselors will be available for students beginning at 8:15 a.m. The football team will meet soon after, and counselors will be at the school throughout the day.
Funeral services for the Barbosas are set for 10 a.m. Tuesday at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home south of McKinney. Services for Austin York will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at First Christian Church of McKinney, and services for Matthew Self will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church of McKinney.
Staff writers Kristine Hughes and Luke Gilliam contributed to this report.
The McKinney North High School Football Booster Club is collecting donations for the Barbosa family's funeral. Checks can be made out to the McKinney North Booster Club (note for funeral expenses), c/o Shawn Pratt, head coach, 2500 Wilmeth, McKinney, Texas 75071
The club is also gathering money for a scholarship fund in honor of Austin York and Matthew Self. Contact Angie Bado at 469-742-4226.