Presented Without Comment

I really can't think on anything to add to this, from the Houston Chronicle:

The owner of a convenience store in one of Dallas' poor neighborhoods thought it was odd when children from the elementary school across the street came in with $100 bills to pay for candy and chips.

Now Charlene Williams believes it was tied to a report that a student found as much as $100,000 and handed it out to other children, prompting threats to the children and their families to get the money back.

Lt. Jan Easterling, a Dallas police spokeswoman, said a felony warrant has been issued for 23-year-old Sylvespa Adams, of Dallas, in relation to the case.

"He's definitely tied to this whole thing and the money somehow," she said.

Easterling said the money, which has not been reported stolen, is likely drug money.

She said that it's been hard to determine the exact amount found. She said that detectives say it was at least in the thousands, and may range from $30,000 up to $100,000.

"They were just spending more than they normally do," said Williams, who owns a convenience store and grill across from Joseph J. Rhoads Learning Center.

"One boy came in here with a $100 bill and asked for change," said Williams. When she told him Saturday that he needed to be careful with his "mama's money," he told her "this ain't my mama's money, this is my money."

On Thursday, there was a strong police presence at the school for first-graders through sixth-graders after a lockdown went into place for a time the day before as rumors swirled about the money and threats of a drive-by shooting, said Dallas school district spokeswoman Sandra Guerrero.

Guerrero said Thursday security will be increased as long as necessary. "We want parents to have a sense that their kids will be safe coming to school," she said.

"We do have a lot of extra security around this school and where the kids live," Easterling said.

About 200 of the school's 600 children did not show up Thursday.

Easterling said that up to eight kids, ranging in age from 9 to 13, were involved.

She said that the money was found Saturday by one child. Easterling would not say where the money was found, but said it was not at the school.

Easterling said that the boy who found the money was passing it out at school Monday, which raised the suspicions of teachers.

She said that they were still interviewing children and parents, but weren't getting clear stories from the children on the money.

Easterling said that police have gotten several calls from parents who said that people had come to their door demanding their money back.

"Definitely people are saying they're afraid," Easterling said. "They're afraid for their kids."

Erie Roy told The Dallas Morning News that she was watching television with her 12-year-old son Tuesday afternoon when two men stormed through her open front door with two of the boy's friends. She said one of the men kept his hand in his pocket as if he had a gun and one of the boys was crying.

Roy said one of the men threatened her son, saying, "`I don't have no problem with killing you. I want my money right now.'"

She ordered her son into the kitchen and called 911, describing the men as they drove away.

"These are drug dealers. If they come back -- I'm afraid," she said, sobbing. "I know they're going to hurt me. What am I supposed to do?"

Roy said that although her youngest son was offered money by neighborhood kids Sunday. he never took it.

When a reporter for The Associated Press knocked on Roy's door Thursday, someone shouted through the door that Roy no longer wanted to talk to the press.

Williams, whose store features video games and a pool table, said she also noticed kids with new shoes and coats. "They bought what they needed," she said.

"All you have to do is see the ones with the new stuff on them and you know," Williams said.

Link found on Fark. Side note: this story was substantively changed since first posted, but no mention is made on the webpage. Bad form, y'all.