Latest news with #SearcyHighSchool
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Family gives update on Searcy teen shot in neck; police say gunman was deported twice
SEARCY, Ark. – A teen shot in the neck before Mother's Day still has months in the hospital before the doctors decide what to do with the bullet in his neck, according to his father, Antonio Toledo, who gave an update Wednesday. Isaiah Toledo is alert and his condition is stable, apart from some recent blood pressure scares, according to his father. 'He's been strong. He's been brave,' Antonio said. 'He has good spirit, but here or there he stays quiet and we can see his face. He's a little sad.' Man arrested after Searcy teen shot in neck during Mother's Day weekend The bullet that hit Isaiah Toledo didn't just stop in his neck, it stopped his way of life. The Searcy athlete driving home from a graduation party can't even hold a ball in his hand now because he's paralyzed from the neck down. His family is praying for a miracle as doctors wait to see how his condition improves with time. 'The nerves might be damaged but not completely broke, so they want to wait, letting his body heal in its own way, get strong, and then see what they can do,' Antonio explained. Antonio Toledo has been by his son's side every day since they arrived at Arkansas Children's Hospital, but due to life's expenses, he returned to work for the first time Wednesday. It is not where he wants to be most, but where Isaiah needs him most. 'He questions a lot about what are you going to do now? What are you guys going to do with me? And the answer is we're going to love you,' Antonio said. Love is pouring in across the community. Many classmates have visited Isaiah in the Arkansas Children's Hospital. Teammates from the Searcy High School soccer team sent a heartfelt message before competing in a state championship. 'We all love you very much and we're all praying for you,' one teammate said. Searcy father speaks out after son was shot in the neck, police say accused gunman was previously deported The Searcy Lion Band Booster Club, local restaurants, and even the local ambulance service have collected more than $10,000 through fundraisers. Fundraisers continue Saturday, May 31, with a 5K at 9 a.m. on Bostic Road. Donations for Isaiah's recovery can be made in person, via mail or online. Direct donations can be given in person or mailed to any First Community Bank. Online donations can be made through or . Antonio said more than $25,000 has been directly donated to the family, and that Isaiah is fighting for everyone fighting for him. 'Now that this has happened, they (the family) understand how much people know who we are, and the response we get from them has been a blessing because at this point, if it had been just me, we would be lost,' Antonio said. Searcy Police say Candelario Gameros-Ante, the immigrant arrested for shooting Isaiah, was deported twice from the country, instead of just once, as they originally thought. Searcy community supporting teen shot in neck during Mother's Day weekend Gameros-Ante's first court appearance is set for July 8. Isaiah's family wants justice, but right now they are focused on healing. 'I tell him, you know, just keep your spirit up. Stay strong, and then we will come out of this, and then someway, somehow, I say we just wait for God to give us a miracle and you go back in the stream and fish and play soccer again,' Antonio said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
Searcy community supporting teen shot in neck during Mother's Day weekend
SEARCY, Ark. – Community members in Searcy are coming together in support of a teenage boy who was shot over Mother's Day weekend. Isaiah Toledo, a 16-year-old sophomore at Searcy High School, was shot in the neck while driving home from a graduation party Saturday night. Isaiah's father, Antonio Toledo, said his son will likely never enjoy life as he knew it due to the possibly of being paralyzed. Searcy father speaks out after son was shot in the neck, police say accused gunman was previously deported On Thursday, the Searcy Lion Band booster club will accept donations at the Ahlf Jr. High band concert in honor of Isaiah. The performance will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Searcy High School Performing Arts Center. Donations for Isaiah's recovery can be made in person, via mail or online. Direct donations can be given in person or mailed to any First Community Bank. Online donations can be made through CashApp or GoFundMe. There will also be more community fundraisers scheduled to support the Toledo family. Man arrested after Searcy teen shot in neck during Mother's Day weekend According to Searcy police, 45-year-old Candelario Gameros-Ante was arrested in connection to the shooting. Officials said Gameros-Ante was previously deported in 2017. Gameros-Ante is facing charges of terroristic act and criminal impersonation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Yahoo
Searcy father speaks out after son was shot in the neck, police say accused gunman was previously deported
SEARCY, Ark. – A 16-year-old's life was forever changed after a bullet hit him in the neck while driving home. Searcy police say they responded to his wrecked car around 11:30 p.m. Saturday and later arrested the man who was already deported from the country once in 2017. Man arrested after Searcy teen shot in neck during Mother's Day weekend Isaiah Toledo is an active soccer player and loves to fish, but his father, Antonio Toledo, said the teen will likely never enjoy those things the same way again. 'It's bad. He can be paralyzed for the rest of his life. He can only feel his chest up,' Antonio said. Isaiah Toledo was driving home from a graduation party when his father said Isaiah was shot by someone he did not know. Searcy Police Chief Steve Hernandez posted a public release Monday. 'I would call it random. This 16-year-old definitely didn't deserve this,' Hernandez said. Hernandez said when Searcy police officers responded to Toledo's crash in the 1000 block of West Academy Avenue, they found bullet casings in a nearby yard and arrested who they believed was Edgar Gameros of Batesville. On Monday, police learned that was a false identity. They say 45-year-old Candelario Gameros-Ante used someone else's Social Security card to obtain an Arkansas driver's license. 'Mr. Gameros stated he thought it was the cartel coming for him cause the car was driving slow down the road, and that's when he fired the shots,' Hernandez stated. 'In his mind, I mean he (Isaiah) was showing respect to them,' Antonio said. 'He don't want somebody, just you, know out of the blue jump in the street or playing push and shove.' Little Rock police investigating deadly Sunday night shooting Antonio said his son was awake when paramedics flew him to Arkansas Children's Hospital and awake when doctors gave unfavorable updates. When he spoke to his brother and father, Isaiah told them, 'I'm done'. 'All his goals, his dreams was over just because some random person decided to, I don't know,' Antonio said, wiping tears and shaking his head. Gameros-Ante is charged with committing a terroristic act and criminal impersonation. He is being held in the White County jail on a $1,000,000 bond. Antonio said he hopes the judge is focused on preventing this from happening to another child. Meanwhile, his focus is on what he can do. As a contractor and business owner, Antonio may not be able to fix his son's condition, but he plans to fix the condition of his home for Isaiah's accessibility needs just as he's done for many homes before. 'He's a perfect, he was a perfect kid,' Toledo said. 'When I was in someone else's house, I was like I wish never in my life face something like that.' The Toledo family knows they will need help from neighbors to get through this, and they welcome any assistance people can send. Batesville man sentenced to life in prison for first-degree murder Isaiah is a Sophomore at Searcy High School and part of the soccer team competing in the state soccer tournament this week, so he has many people rooting for him. Searcy Police say two other men in their twenties were arrested with Gameras on unrelated charges. They are on hold for Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the White County Jail. Chief Hernandez said he was not informed if any of the three had previous federal charges apart from Gameros' previous deportation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Yahoo
Searcy bowling alley manager arrested with no bond after fentanyl overdose
SEARCY, Ark. – Authorities said two men have been arrested after one overdosed in a Searcy bowling alley earlier in the month. After an investigation, Searcy police arrested Super Bowl manager James Preston Tarkington, who survived the overdose. He is now in jail with no bond. His charges include fentanyl possession and drug paraphernalia possession. Fentanyl overdose in Searcy bowling alley leads to two arrests Authorities also charged John Sterling Holmes with trafficking a controlled substance after finding fentanyl and other drug paraphernalia inside the bowling alley and Holmes's car. He has a $150,000 bond. The bowling alley on Main Street is popular for birthdays and league play. It was a frequent spot for Charity Boyd, who played on the Searcy High School bowling team and later worked for Tarkington. 'He would come over. He would show us how to do certain things alongside Coach Leonard,' Boyd remembered. Lonoke County pursuit leaves deputy, K9 and others injured Barbie Whitlow used to bowl there and stated the families are lucky the two were caught because she knows fentanyl can destroy far more than reputations. Her daughter, Amanda Destiny, died from a fentanyl overdose in September 2024. 'Those guys were 32 years old. Both of them were, and Amanda would be 32 today,' Whitlow said. Jessica Brawley also lives in White County. She hopes there is a future for both men and the place where generations of families have gone for entertainment. 'It is shocking. I mean, you're in a family place and you're doing fentanyl,' Brawley said. 'I'll make the drive for my kids to have a good time and be safe.' AG Tim Griffin among 25 attorney generals urging US Senate to pass 'HALT Fentanyl Act' Holmes' first court date is June 3. Tarkington's is on July 8. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
