The Dallas Police Department is investigating a shooting on Monday that left one person dead and one person in custody.
A press release from the DPD states that police officers responded to a shooting at the 2700 Block of Lenway Street around 2:15 p.m., where they found 37-year-old Michael Mitchell suffering from a gunshot wound. Mitchell died at the scene of the shooting.
Police said they have one person in custody in connection with the crime, though it is still unclear what the suspect is charged with, according to The Dallas Morning News.
This investigation is ongoing and has been referred to the Dallas County Grand Jury, according to the DPD news release.
This incident, which occurred in Council Member Adam Bazaldua’s District ​7, occurs amid a year of increased crime in Dallas, with an additional 844 crimes committed to this point in 2023 than in 2022, according to the City’s crime analytics dashboard.
The high crime rates in Dallas come as the city deals with a shortage of police officers. A City analysis found that 4,000 officers would be necessary to manage crime in Dallas, yet there are approximately 3,000 officers currently sworn in.
Downtown Dallas has been especially affected by the lack of officers, leading to significantly higher crime in this portion of the city compared to Fort Worth’s city center.
Fort Worth has implemented a specialized crime unit that patrols the area alongside private security guards to manage crime in its downtown area.
