3 dead, 1 injured after shootout at West Dallas short-term rental party

3 dead in shooting at West Dallas rental home

There are still no arrests after an overnight shooting in West Dallas that left three people dead and another person injured. Police said it happened during a party at a short-term rental home.

DALLAS - A late-night party at a West Dallas short-term rental turned deadly early Tuesday morning when uninvited guests sparked a shootout that left three people dead and another wounded, authorities said.

3 killed, 1 injured

What we know:

Dallas police responded to a shooting call at 12:21 a.m. in the 3700 block of Vilbig Road, near Bayside Street. Upon arrival, officers encountered a chaotic scene with dozens of people running from a large, two-story house.

Inside the residence, officers found three victims who had been shot. Dallas Fire-Rescue paramedics pronounced a man and a woman dead at the scene. A third victim, whose gender was not immediately confirmed by authorities, was taken to a local hospital but died shortly after arrival.

As investigators secured the scene, a fourth victim arrived at an area hospital by private vehicle. He is expected to survive.

Two of the victims were identified as 20-year-old Jaiclyn Scott and 19-year-old Journie Griffin. The third deceased victim’s name will be released after their family has been notified. 

Bystanders caught in crossfire

What we know:

According to police, between 50 and 150 people were attending a large party at the home when an uninvited group arrived at the front door. An altercation quickly escalated into gunfire. 

Investigators believe shots were exchanged between the group at the entrance and individuals already inside the house, leaving the victims trapped in the crossfire as innocent bystanders.

What they're saying:

"Why, man? To wake up to things like that, why? And then the next question is what are we going to do about it?" said Pastor Earl Thomas with The Mountain Top Dallas Church.  "We have work to do and I'm not just talking spiritually at church. I'm talking about in the community."

Pastor Thomas said he hopes the community can come together and have a conversation about the violence.

"My prayer is that we really come back together, sit down and have conversations about how we can kind of direct the next generation on what it is to be peaceful and educated," he said.

What we don't know:

Police detained several people trying to leave the area. They were being interviewed by homicide detectives early Tuesday. 

No descriptions of the suspects have been released, and no arrests have been immediately announced.

The investigation is ongoing.