Dallas police are still searching for a suspect involved in a double homicide that occurred in South Dallas on Thursday evening.
Officers from the Dallas Police Department responded to a report of a shooting in the 5300 block of South Second Avenue at around 6 p.m. on Thursday.
Upon arriving at the scene, three unidentified men were found with gunshot wounds. Two were pronounced dead at the scene. The survivor was admitted to a nearby hospital with critical injuries, but he is said to be in stable condition.
Police said the unidentified suspect fled the scene.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to contact Det. Beverly Ma at 214-671-4085 or [email protected].
The shooting occurred in Council Member Adam Bazaldua’s District 7. In September, this district, alongside Council Member Carolyn King Arnold’s District 4, accounted for nearly half of Dallas’ 25 murders, as previously covered by The Dallas Express.
As of November 17, there have been 220 murders and non-negligent criminal homicides committed across the city, marking a 14% year-over-year increase, according to the City’s crime analytics dashboard.
DPD has been operating with a significant staffing shortage in recent years. As a prior analysis from the City revealed, Dallas needs a force of approximately 4,000 officers to adequately maintain public safety. This amounts to roughly three officers for every 1,000 residents. However, DPD currently fields only around 3,200 sworn personnel.
The effects of the staffing shortage are felt in Downtown Dallas. The neighborhood logs significantly higher crime compared to nearby Fort Worth’s downtown area, which is reportedly patrolled by a designated neighborhood police unit working alongside private security guards.
