4 dead, 15 injured in Dallas' Deep Ellum Halloween shootings
Dallas Police news conference on Deep Ellum Halloween shootings
Four people were killed and approximately 15 others injured during three separate shootings across the Deep Ellum entertainment district in the early hours of Sunday morning following Halloween festivities, according to the Dallas Police Department.
DALLAS - Four people were killed and approximately 15 others injured during three separate shootings across the Deep Ellum entertainment district in the early hours of Sunday morning following Halloween festivities, according to the Dallas Police Department.
Deep Ellum Halloween Shootings
What we know:
Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux detailed the chaos during a Sunday morning news briefing, describing a complex and evolving investigation as detectives work to establish whether the three incidents were connected.
"Right now, in total, we have four people that are deceased from three separate scenes, and we have approximately 15 others that have been injured," Comeaux said. He noted that the injury toll remains fluid as several victims self-transported to local hospitals following the violence.
Investigators currently have no evidence indicating the three shootings are related. The violence unfolded over a period of time, with shootings occurring roughly 30 minutes to an hour apart across the Deep Ellum neighborhood.
The preliminary investigation determined that the shootings happened at approximately 12:20 a.m. in the 2600 block of Elm Street, 1:05 a.m. in the 2600 block of Main Street, and 1:35 a.m. in the 200 block of South Crowdus Street.
Despite the violence, Comeaux commended officers for their rapid response times, noting that extra patrols had been deployed in anticipation of heavy Halloween crowds on Saturday night.
"We were fully staffed out here," Comeaux said. "We looked at the plan. We knew it was Saturday night. We knew it was Halloween, so we were staffed properly."
In one instance, officers positioned less than two blocks away ran directly toward the sound of gunfire, arriving almost immediately. Officers performed life-saving measures on the scene, successfully reviving at least one injured victim, according to the chief.
Police have made arrests and are interviewing several individuals while working to determine their potential connections to the shootings. Detectives are also questioning witnesses and actively searching for additional suspects.
What's next:
Investigators plan to conduct door-to-door canvasses of local businesses to collect surveillance video and review footage from area cameras. Police appealed directly to the public for assistance, urging anyone with photos, videos, or social media clips from the area to come forward.
"This is completely unacceptable for it to take place in Dallas, and we're going to do everything that we need to do to get everyone in custody that's responsible for this," Comeaux said.
Crime scenes are expected to remain active throughout Sunday as evidence technicians gather shell casings and process the areas.
What you can do:
Anyone with information is asked to contact Sgt. Boz Rojas, #10379, at (214) 671-3598 or at boz.rojas@dallaspolice.gov.
What they're saying:
Statement from Dallas Mayor Eric L. Johnson regarding Deep Ellum Shootings
"While we are still working to understand what motivated these incidents, this kind of violence is always unacceptable in our city. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and everyone affected by these heinous shootings, and my full support lies with the Dallas Police Department as it investigates this incident and works to bring those responsible to justice. Public safety must always remain our top priority and we must continue to explore strategies to ensure that Deep Ellum can be a safe gathering place in our city."
A Statement from Kimberly Bizor Tolbert regarding Deep Ellum Shootings
Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families following the tragic overnight shootings in Deep Ellum. Dallas Police officers were on the ground and able to respond immediately. Dallas Police will continue to investigate this incident and work to bring those responsible to justice. We will share additional information as it becomes available.
Statement from Deep Ellum Foundation
"Today we are devastated. Today we are focused on the victims and their families. Today we are focused on our community. We are mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, and children first and before anything. This is unacceptable."
"We will hold community listening sessions this week. Our community engagers are working to connect with grieving families. At the sessions, we will be joined by Amplified Minds, who are a resource for anyone who finds themselves in need of support. They also have a session at 2 pm today. Follow the link.
The Source: Information in this article comes from the Dallas Police Department.