Arlington apartment shooting leaves 3 people dead; shooter still at large

ARLINGTON, Texas - Three people died after a shooting at an Arlington apartment complex.

The shooting happened Thursday evening around 8:30 p.m. at the Chatham Green Village Apartments near the corner of Matlock Road and Arbrook Boulevard.

Police say a neighbor called 911 after hearing gunshots. After a closer look, the neighbor saw a 29-year-old man on the ground near an apartment where the door was kicked in.

When officers arrived and entered the apartment, they discovered the couple who lived there: a 31-year-old man who later died at a hospital and a 29-year-old woman, who was pronounced dead at the scene.   

Police believe the killer forced his way in before firing.

"We really want to solve this crime. Just very sad moment. Just senseless. Very sad and senseless and we want to bring the family justice," said Arlington Police Sgt. Courtney White.

Police are now looking for security video from the area that may help them identify a suspect.

They do not believe there is an ongoing threat to the public.

Investigators say the man and woman in the apartment were in a dating relationship and lived at the apartment with the woman's children.

The two children were inside the apartment at the time of the shooting and likely witnessed the violence. They were not hurt and were later released to a family member.

Without elaborating, police say evidence found at the scene leads them to believe the triple murder is drug-related.

"We believe the incident occurred due to high-risk drug activity," White said. "It was callous, it was heinous and it was ruthless. The Arlington Police Department is determined to locate the suspect and bring justice to these families.

Police only released a vague description. Witnesses say they saw one man dressed in all black running from the scene. 

Police did confirm the 29-year-old man lying outside the apartment was an acquaintance visiting the couple.

Family members tell FOX 4 the 29-year-old is Shannen Jones, and he was a mobile barber. His mom, Paula Johnson, says the man living at the complex was one of his clients. He leaves behind a 5-year-old son and a one-month-old baby girl. 

"He had an appointment. The guy had an apartment. So Shannen goes to cut his hair. And in the midst of that, something was going on, and he was leaving. But I can’t confirm anything because I wasn’t there," Johnson said. "I hope they have some time to reflect on what they did and what they took from us."

Investigators are searching for surveillance video in the area. They’re also talking to anyone who might shed light on what prompted the shooting that left three dead and traumatized two small children. 

"We believe they may have known the assailant," White said. "So we are just trying to figure out, put the pieces together, what led to this event."

 The identities of the man and woman killed in the apartment haven’t been released by police or the medical examiner.