A party in southeast Dallas on Saturday took a tragic turn when a young woman was killed by gunfire.
Police were dispatched to the shooting call around 10:30 p.m. at the Cherokee Village Apartments in the 7200 block of Elam Road. They found the woman, identified as 23-year-old Latorra Allen, lying on the ground with a bullet wound in her neck.
Allen was taken to a local hospital, where she later died.
Police investigators said there was a large party or celebration taking place in the location’s courtyard when several shots were fired. Allen was the only person struck by the gunfire.
Police say there is no description of the potential gunmen and have asked anyone with additional information to come forward.
The apartment complex where the shooting occurred, located in City Council District 5, is across the street from E.B. Comstock Middle School, highlighting the danger of Dallas’ spiraling violence to law-abiding community members.
Dallas has struggled with violent crime in 2023, with non-family violence homicides increasing by 33.85% in the first third of the year.
Dallas City Councilman Jaime Resendez attended E.B. Comstock Middle School and is the current District 5 City representative.
The Dallas Express contacted Resendez to inquire about any immediate plans the City has made to increase the presence of law enforcement in violent crime-ravaged neighborhoods but did not receive a response from the council member or his staff by the publication deadline.
The Dallas Police Department has a chronic staffing shortage, according to Police Chief Eddie Garcia, who said the city needs “hundreds of more officers.”
Crime is rampant in downtown Dallas, especially compared to Fort Worth, which has police units dedicated to patrolling the downtown area.
