A late-night trip to Deep Ellum turned violent yesterday when two separate shootings left a security guard dead and five other people wounded, according to Dallas police. Officers responded to gunfire in the 2900 block of Commerce Street late yesterday, where they found five people with gunshot wounds, and then to another shooting in the 2800 block of Elm Street just after midnight, where a security guard was hit. Police blocked off large sections of the entertainment district while detectives processed both scenes and said the incidents are being handled as separate investigations.
Police Say The Incidents Were Unrelated
According to WFAA, the Commerce Street shooting happened around 10:30 p.m. last night. The five people found there with gunshot wounds were reported to have non-life-threatening injuries.
Just after midnight, officers were called to the separate scene in the 2800 block of Elm Street, where a security guard had been shot. A co-worker took him to a hospital, where he later died, and one person was detained in connection with that fatal shooting, police told WFAA. Investigators emphasized that the two cases are being treated as unrelated.
Deep Ellum's Safety Struggles Continue
The overnight gunfire is the latest hit to an entertainment district already wrestling with safety concerns. Earlier this month, a May 4 parking-lot dust-up left a man shot, and the Deep Ellum Foundation released a 42-page community safety plan this spring after a spike in violence, according to Patch. Business owners and neighborhood leaders have been calling for more patrols and tighter crowd management as nightlife ramps back up in the area.
Police Ask For Tips
Dallas police are asking anyone with information or video from either shooting to contact investigators or call Crime Stoppers at 214-373-TIPS (8477). The Dallas Police Department website lists tip lines and instructions for submitting information anonymously, and officials say both cases remain active.
Authorities have not yet released the names of those involved. Detectives continue to canvas the neighborhood and review surveillance footage and any witness video as they work to piece together what led up to each shooting.
