Wrongful death suit filed in 10-year-old’s drowning at Balch Springs park pond

A wrongful death lawsuit was filed today against Balch Springs over the May 18 drowning of 10-year-old Tamia Johnson.

She died after being pulled from a pond at Walter E. Luedke Park at 3201 Hickory Tree Road, west of Interstate 635.

“That park shouldn’t have been opened,” Antoin Lockett, the child’s stepfather, said at a press conference this afternoon.

He and the child’s mother, Ebony McGee, allege in their lawsuit that Balch Springs had planned to post warning signs against swimming and erect a fence around the pond but opened the park before those protections were in place.

Channel 5 reported that rains had filled the retention pond and citizens complained that signs should have been posted before the park opened to the public.

Balch Springs officials have not returned phone calls seeking comment.