Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell is still recovering after sustaining gunshot wounds during a mass shooting incident in Sanford, Florida, last weekend.
Chaos ensued when a 16-year-old brandished a handgun and began firing into a crowd at Cabana Live on Carraway Place shortly after midnight, leaving numerous people injured. Cabana Live is a waterside bar and entertainment venue offering live sports coverage, music, dining, and a pool, per the Daytona Beach News-Journal.
In new surveillance footage released by the Seminole County Sheriff’s Department, Dell can be seen walking past an altercation among a small group of men. Although Dell was not involved in the altercation, he and nine other persons present at the club were struck by gunfire. A Daytona Beach teenager was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm by a minor, the use and display of a firearm during the commission of a felony, firing a weapon on public property, and attempted homicide.
Quick action by a security guard, who tackled the assailant and disarmed him, likely prevented further harm to bystanders, per WESH 2. There were reportedly more than 200 people at the venue at the time of the shooting.
In total, 10 individuals sustained non-life-threatening gunshot wounds, with most injuries confined to the lower body.
Dell, a Daytona Beach native, only suffered a minor injury and has since been discharged from the hospital in good spirits, according to a statement by the Houston Texans football franchise.
The team announced via social media on April 28 that Dell’s injuries were minor. The statement reads, “We have been made aware that Tank Dell was a victim of a shooting in Sanford, Fla. last night. He sustained a minor wound but has been released from the hospital, and he is in good spirits. We are in contact with him and his family and will provide more updates when appropriate, but we ask that you please respect his privacy at this time. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved in the incident.”
Dell, 24, emerged as a promising talent for the Texans last year during his rookie season, amassing an impressive 47 receptions for 709 yards and seven touchdowns in just 11 games. However, his season was cut short in December due to a fractured fibula, sidelining him for the remainder of the season, per the NFL webpage.
Cabana Live’s Facebook statement assured the public of its cooperation with law enforcement and pledged to maintain normal business operations. The club has remained open since the shooting and, as of April 30, is advertising drink specials and a “fun environment.”
In Dallas, Texas, gun violence has been an ongoing issue, leading the police department to develop a violent crime reduction plan three years ago. Nevertheless, during the first four months of 2024, 68 criminal homicides were reported in Dallas, according to the City of Dallas crime analytics dashboard.
Crime-fighting efforts in Dallas have been hampered by a shortage of officers and limited funding for the police department. The Dallas Police Department has around 3,000 officers in the field, even though a City report previously advised a force of roughly 4,000 is necessary to reduce lengthy police response times and adequately meet public safety needs.
City officials allocated the department a budget of $654 million this fiscal year, far less than the budgets of other high-crime cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York City.