Police investigating after 8 people injured in overnight shooting near Fort Worth car wash
FORT WORTH, Texas - Fort Worth police are sorting through evidence after a shooting near a car wash early Sunday morning that put eight people in local hospitals.
A night of celebration turned into a scene of gunfire.
The shooting happened just after 1:30 a.m., when a police officer in the Como neighborhood, in southeast Fort Worth, near I-30 and Camp Bowie Boulevard, heard gunshots.
"Well, I just started seeing people running," Lonnie Lambert recalled.
Lambert, who lives nearby, thought he heard fireworks while standing on his front porch. His grandchildren were inside the home.
"But I kept hearing it and it was going rapid. Bop, bop, bop, bop, bop, bop, bop. So I was like, ‘No, that’s something more than fireworks,’" Lambert said.
When that officer and others responded, they found eight people hurt outside a car wash near the 3400 block of Horne Street.
They were all taken to local hospitals, where police said they are in stable condition.
Hundreds of people were at a Fourth of July block party in Fort Worth’s Como neighborhood.
"They were having a great time," said Kenneth Frances, who lives nearby.
It wrapped up at 10 p.m. Several hours later, officers responded after hearing gunshots.
Investigators found that the shooting happened after an argument between several men. One of the men left to get a gun, and then started firing at nearby groups, according to police.
Several people then returned fire, and police said they believe most of the victims were innocent bystanders.
No suspects are in custody at this time.
Police also said a juvenile female was hit by a vehicle while trying to leave the scene and her injuries are minor.
Fort Worth Police Chief Neil Noakes said they found shell casings from several guns, and also added that the violence has to stop.
"This is an extremely tragic event on what is supposed to be a festive occasion on Independence Day. We are seeing way too much gun violence across the nation. We are seeing it here in Fort Worth. We are seeing it here in the Metroplex," Chief Noakes said. "What I want the citizens to know is that we are doing everything we can at Fort Worth PD to put a stop to the senseless violence and take guns out of the hands of criminals in Fort Worth, Texas. It will not be tolerated."
The chief also praised the efforts of the police officers who responded, and said their actions - treating the victims before paramedics arrived - likely saved lives.
"Normally, this type of party brings people from everywhere," said Anthony Johnson, who lives nearby.
People living in the area believe it’s people from outside the area who are responsible for the shooting.
"Don’t come into this community and continue to tear it down and destroy it," Ella Burton said.
The neighborhood, which is still cleaning up, is scheduled to host its 70th annual parade Monday.
"Maybe we need a little bit more police presence or something, I don’t know," Frances said.
Neighbors are praying for the victims and their families.
"It’s heartbreaking to wake up to that kind of news," Frances added.
Moving forward, they have concerns, but believe their holiday celebration shouldn’t be defined by what happened overnight.