Fort Worth officials are rolling out a roughly $97,000 public awareness blitz to curb illegal gunfire after staff told city council members they have seen a sharp uptick in arrests tied to stray and celebratory shootings. The push, unveiled at an April 7 work session, will target parents, teenagers and community groups in neighborhoods that have reported bullets flying in the street. City leaders say education and targeted digital outreach are the first step, alongside enforcement, in trying to keep rounds out of backyards and living rooms.
City staff said the plan follows a 28.54 percent increase in arrests tied to illegal gunfire and recommended a mix of Facebook ads aimed largely inside Loop 820, Spotify spots during the campaign’s first half and later YouTube placements aimed at younger residents. The budget also includes roughly $7,000 for newspaper ads that walk residents through how to report gunfire, and outreach partners would include the Fort Worth Independent School District and community groups such as the YMCA. Staff noted that the average suspect age in these cases is roughly 16 to 23. The campaign tone will be firm, Police Chief Eddie Garcia told the council, saying the effort will stress that these incidents are violent crimes, and city communications leadership warned that a stray bullet can travel miles. As reported by the Fort Worth Star‑Telegram.
Shooting Footage Pushed City To Act
Officials pointed to a March 25 incident that made the risks feel uncomfortably real. Surveillance and body‑camera footage show a man firing dozens of rounds in the 4200 block of Bonita Drive before an officer shot and wounded him. The suspect, Alejandro Serrano, reportedly fired about 30 rounds and faces charges including aggravated assault against a public servant and deadly conduct. Police said no residents were injured in that episode. The Dallas Morning News reviewed the video released by the department and covered the police update.
What The Law Says
Under Texas law, knowingly discharging a firearm in a way that endangers people or property can be charged as deadly conduct, a provision of the Penal Code that can be prosecuted as a Class A misdemeanor or, in some circumstances, as a felony. The deadly‑conduct section spells out when a discharge crosses the line into criminal territory, and state punishment guidelines show a Class A misdemeanor may carry up to one year in jail and a fine not to exceed $4,000. See the Texas Penal Code and sentencing guidance on Justia.
Council Reaction And Next Steps
Council members at the April 7 work session generally praised the proposal and pushed staff to broaden school outreach to neighboring districts, with District 6's Mia Hall asking for a tie‑in with Crowley and District 4's Charles Lauersdorf urging outreach to Keller. Some members questioned whether newspaper placements would actually reach teenagers, while staff argued that a mix of platforms is meant to catch parents and younger residents at different times of day. City staff told council the campaign is slated to begin in May, with ad buys and community outreach rolling out in phases. As reported by the Fort Worth Star‑Telegram.
Officials say the campaign is one piece of a broader push that includes targeted enforcement and messaging about safe firearm storage, an effort meant to cut down on guns stolen from cars and homes. Police urged residents to report gunfire immediately so investigators can follow up, and council members said they will watch the campaign’s reach next season to see whether it reduces reckless shootings. The city plans to return to the council with budget details and outreach metrics as the effort moves from planning into execution.
