According to police, a 5-year-old boy and a 17-year-old boy were killed, and an 18-month-old boy was injured in a drive-by shooting in broad daylight.
An unspecified number of armed men began firing on a group of individuals in a front yard in Fort Worth, Texas, around 2 p.m. Sunday, striking 3 victims, Fort Worth Police Chief Neil Noakes said at a press briefing. According to police, the driver fled the scene.
The 17-year-old and 5-year-old died in hospitals. According to Noakes, the 18-month-old wourare minor and he is expected to recover. He also speculated that the three victims might be related.
“We’re seeing violent crime on the rise across the country and, unfortunately, we’re seeing violent crime here in Fort Worth in numbers we don’t want to see,” the chief said.
“We’re seeing violent crime on the rise across the country and, unfortunately, we’re seeing violent crime here in Fort Worth in numbers we don’t want to,” he continued.
“I think of the 17-year-old who should be looking at his senior year, graduating and starting his life. I think of the 5-year-old who should be starting kindergarten,” Noakes said.
“The 17-year-old will never graduate. That 5-year-old will never graduate from kindergarten. That 18-month-old will have physical and emotional scars that may stay with him the rest of his life.”
Noakes said it’s unclear whether the shooting was gang-related, but police are looking into it.
Noakes urged anyone with knowledge or video footage to come forward. He promised that police would “put every resource necessary” to apprehend the perpetrators.
