A preliminary investigation into two Sunday night shootings in Arlington and Forney has suggested that they share a common thread.
On December 17, the bodies of two individuals were found fatally shot on opposite sides of the metroplex. Although neither victim has been formally identified, Forney police reported that their detectives, alongside those from the Arlington Police Department, have concluded that the violent deaths are linked.
The first victim — an unidentified female — was discovered inside a home garage with multiple gunshot wounds after officers responded to reports of a shooting in the 120 block of Mandarin Street in Forney shortly before 10:30 p.m. The woman had been shot several times and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Forney detectives canvassed the neighborhood and learned that a suspect had been spotted fleeing the scene, injured.
About an hour later, Arlington police found an unresponsive male victim in the parking lot of a 24-hour emergency room in the 3300 block of Cooper Street. The 17-year-old had been shot once.
Investigative units from both cities’ police departments are being aided by the Texas Rangers. Although no further details on how the shootings are connected have been released, Forney PD stated that the incidents appear to have been “isolated” and “no immediate risk to the public” currently exists, according to a news release.
In nearby Dallas, the homicide rate continues to climb as the Dallas Police Department labors against a persistent officer shortage. Approximately 3,200 sworn-in staff are currently employed by DPD, despite a prior City analysis calling for closer to 4,000 in order to adequately address public safety needs. As of December 17, 236 murders had been logged within Dallas, according to the City’s crime analytics dashboard. This indicates a rise of 12.9% year over year from 2022.
Another strong indicator of DPD’s stretched resources is the ongoing criminality seen in Downtown Dallas. The neighborhood has become a hot spot for vagrancy, drug crime, assaults, and theft, as extensively covered in The Dallas Express. Compared to neighboring Fort Worth’s downtown area, which is reportedly patrolled by a special neighborhood police unit and private security guards, crimes occur far more frequently in Downtown Dallas.
