A quiet cul-de-sac in far north Fort Worth turned into a taped-off crime scene yesterday after three people were shot and a woman was taken into custody, according to police.
Officers and medics responded around 8 p.m. to the 5100 block of Persimmon Court, where they found multiple gunshot victims and quickly locked down the dead-end street. Rescuers told reporters that two victims were transported in critical condition and a third was listed as serious. Neighbors described a swarm of patrol cars and investigators lingering late into the night. Detectives said the violence followed a dispute that started inside a parked vehicle.
According to CBS News Texas, 29-year-old Dashane Ballard was booked into the Fort Worth Police Detention Facility early Thursday on three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, one of which includes a family-violence enhancement. The outlet reports that Ballard and her boyfriend argued while sitting in a parked car before two neighbors approached. During the confrontation, both neighbors and the boyfriend were struck by gunfire. Fort Worth Fire-EMS told CBS two of the victims were in critical condition and the third was in serious condition. Ballard was treated at a hospital before being taken to jail, CBS reported. Police booking information cited by the station lists her age and charges but does not identify the victims.
WFAA first reported the overnight call, saying three adult men were shot in the Persimmon Court cul-de-sac and that a woman was taken into custody at the scene. Video from the station shows a cluster of patrol units blocking the street while officers canvassed yards and detectives worked under floodlights. WFAA’s early report helped draw attention to the incident as the police presence grew and investigators began knocking on doors.
Police say argument in parked car escalated
Fort Worth police told detectives that the shooting started after a verbal argument in the parked car turned into an armed confrontation, with two neighbors stepping in and then being shot, according to CBS News Texas. Investigators from the department’s homicide and patrol units stayed on scene into the night to collect evidence and take statements. By Thursday morning, no additional arrests had been announced, and detectives had not publicly offered a motive beyond what they described as a domestic dispute that spilled over and wounded bystanders.
Charges and what they mean
Prosecutors charged Ballard with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a felony under Texas law that covers causing serious bodily injury or using a weapon during an attack. Sentences for aggravated assault depend on the circumstances; a second-degree aggravated assault conviction can carry a prison term ranging from two to twenty years and fines up to $10,000. For the statutory definition, see Texas Penal Code § 22.02, and for the sentencing context, see FindLaw.
Authorities said the investigation remains active. Detectives continued interviewing witnesses and processing evidence and asked anyone with information to contact the Fort Worth Police Department, as reported by WFAA. Neighbors told local reporters they heard arguing before the gunfire and said they were shaken by the sudden burst of violence on a street where most excitement usually involves delivery trucks and dog walkers. Police have not released the victims’ names, citing family notifications, and said medical updates are being relayed directly to investigators.
