City Council Approves New Downtown Development Project•Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued for Dallas-Fort Worth AreaCity Council Approves New Downtown Development Project•Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued for Dallas-Fort Worth Area
DFW Crime & Public Safety — Understanding the Metro's Safety Landscape
Dallas-Fort Worth covers 13 counties and over 9,000 square miles — crime patterns vary dramatically by neighborhood. The Dallas Police Department operates 14 patrol divisions across the city, while Fort Worth PD runs a Real-Time Crime Center that monitors citywide camera networks. Tarrant County Sheriff's Office and Dallas County Constable Precincts handle county-level law enforcement. DDN aggregates crime reporting from DPD, FWPD, and county-level sources to give DFW residents a comprehensive view of public safety across the metro.
A North Texas real estate agent accused in a 14-year-old Arlington murder case is now fighting to get out of jail.Police say a DNA breakthrough finally led them to Mayra Velasquez, who has been charged with capital murder. Her attorney says investigators have drawn the wrong conclusion from the evidence.Attorney challenges DNA evidenceFourteen years after Irasema Chavez was found stabbed to death more than 100 times inside her Arlington apartment, North Texas real estate agent Mayra Velasquez was arrested for the crime.Now, the case has shifted from an unsolved mystery to a battle over DNA evidence."I think that the conclusion is flawed. I don't know necessarily that the investigation is flawed," said Frank Sellers, Velasquez's attorney.At a press conference this week, Arlington police and the FBI said genetic genealogy identified Velasquez as a possible suspect.Detectives then followed her to a restaurant, where they recovered a plastic fork she used.Police say the DNA on that fork ma
Carrollton Police have charged a man with murder after his girlfriend was found dead in a vehicle off I-35.Carrollton homicide arrestOn July 21, the North Texas Emergency Communications Center received a call about an unconscious person in a vehicle on the shoulder of southbound I-35 near the 2500 block of Carrollton.Carrollton Police and Carrollton Fire-Rescue responded and found 41-year-old Vera Pitulic deceased within the vehicle.Detectives learned Pitulic had been reported missing to the Grapevine Police Department on July 20.Evidence obtained by both departments led Carrollton detectives to execute a search warrant at the home of 38-year-old Donny Benedict, Pitulic's boyfriend.Additional evidence gathered at the home led to Benedict's arrest. He has been charged with murder and is being held in the Collin County Jail.Officials have not given a motive for the homicide.
Two people have been charged with murder in the fatal shooting of an 18-year-old man at a Fort Worth apartment complex earlier this month, according to police and jail records.Fort Worth police responded to a reported shooting at about 11:41 p.m. on July 14 in the 1400 block of Carol Oaks Lane. Officers found a man in the parking lot suffering from at least one gunshot wound. Despite lifesaving efforts by police and firefighters, he was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after midnight.The Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office identified the victim as Torrey Jaden Marshall, 18. The medical examiner ruled his death a homicide caused by a gunshot wound to the right thigh.Police have not released details about what led to the shooting. The investigation remains ongoing.Police initially said several people at the scene were detained while homicide detectives investigated. Jail records show 17-year-old Gerald Chamberlain was booked into the Tarrant County Jail on July 21 on a murder ch
Certain songs will be allowed to be played in a murder trial involving Dallas rapper Yella Beezy, but songs prosecutors argued explain the motive behind Mo3's murder will not be allowed.Yella Beezy murder trialA Dallas County judge ruled that two songs by Yella Beezy and one song by Mo3 will be allowed to be played in court.Lyrics in the songs seemingly speak to the two rappers' feud.However, the judge did not allow songs that prosecutors argue explain the motive behind Mo3's killing to be played.Yella Beezy's defense argued the lyrics involve playing a character, and should not be taken as fact.A Yella Beezy Instagram live video from the day of Mo3's murder was also not allowed to be played.Witness listThe prosecution's witness list was also revealed. Witnesses include:Kewon White and Devin Brown (others charged in connection)Benjamin Rainwater (MO3's manager)D'Andrea Harris (Yella Beezy's girlfriend)Nichole Noble (MO3's mom)Dallas rapper Trap Boy Freddy is also on the witness list. T
The former Plano ISD elementary school teacher who was arrested earlier this month for allegedly sexually abusing students is now facing three additional charges.Plano ISD teacher arrestedInvestigators have obtained three new warrants for 64-year-old Paul Campbell on charges of indecency with a child.Cambell was first arrested on July 8 and charged with the continuous sexual abuse of a child.According to an arrest warrant affidavit, the longtime Brinker Elementary School teacher sexually abused one of his second-grade students on the school’s campus over the past school year.The 8-year-old girl told her parents over the Fourth of July weekend that Campbell touched her between her legs when she visited his desk to ask a question. She said it happened throughout the year. Campbell would run her through her clothing while answering her question. She said that her friend, and possibly other female classmates, had experienced the same thing. She never saw it happen to any male classmates."W
Arlington police are investigating a deadly Friday night shooting that left one man dead.Officers responded to the intersection of Highlander Boulevard and MLK Drive around 8:40 p.m. Friday for a shots-fired call.Arriving officers found a truck that had gone off the roadway. The driver of the truck had been shot and was pronounced dead at the scene.The identity of the driver has not been released.Authorities said no arrests have been made.
A gunman who fatally shot a 54-year-old man while he was driving near Arlington Highlands remains on the run more than 24 hours after the shooting, police said.Arlington police responded around 8:43 p.m. Friday to reports of multiple gunshots near the intersection of Highlander Boulevard and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, just north of Interstate 20 and across from the Arlington Highlands shopping and entertainment district.When officers arrived, they found a pickup truck that had left the roadway and come to rest in a grassy area near the southwest corner of the intersection. The driver, a 54-year-old man, was unresponsive and had multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.Investigators said witnesses saw the driver of another vehicle fire multiple shots at the victim before fleeing westbound on Highlander Boulevard. Police have not released a description of the suspect vehicle, and no arrests have been made.Authorities said they are pursuing several leads but hav
Fort Worth police have released body camera video after an officer fired a shot at a woman last week. No one was injured in the July 15 incident near Everman Parkway and Oak Grove Road.Fort Worth police were responding to calls about a woman firing a gun but did not find a gun on the woman they shot at. Body camera footage also captures one officer asking another, "Why'd you shoot?"The woman was not injured but has been charged with multiple alleged crimes.Officer fires at woman during foot chaseBody camera footage shows a Fort Worth police officer shooting at, and arresting, 34-year-old Leandra Johnson after she appears to run away from officers investigating reports that she had fired a gun in her neighborhood on July 15.Before officers arrived at Belshire Court, 911 dispatch heard at least one gunshot.Multiple callers reported a woman shooting into trees and provided a description of the suspect."We're in a residential lot, and she just shot at our front tree, and now she's walking
Dallas police have made an arrest in a shooting outside a Pleasant Grove home that killed a 20-year-old woman.Maria Morales, 21, was charged with murder. She is being held in the Lew Sterrett Jail.Police responded just after 10:30 p.m. Thursday to a home near Lake June and North Prairie Creek roads.When officers arrived, they found the victim, Stacie Carrasco, in front of the house with a gunshot wound.Carrasco was taken to an area hospital where she later died.According to an affidavit, a witness said they saw Morales with a handgun, arguing with Carrasco in the backyard of the home. The witness said they walked away and heard a gunshot. The affidavit states the witness saw Morales shouting at Carrasco and telling her not to come back to the home before leaving.Officers said Carrasco was able to identify Morales before being taken to the hospital.
A suspect is dead after they were shot by police in Fort Worth on Saturday night.At a news conference on Saturday night, Fort Worth Police Chief Eddie Garcia said around 8 p.m. officers located a wanted suspect who had cut off their ankle monitor. That suspect then led police on a short chase to the M&M Inn and Suites in south Fort Worth.Police say the suspect then pulled out a handgun and officers opened fire. The suspect died at the scene. No officers were injured.Chief Garcia says the suspect was on an ankle monitor in connection to a sexual assault against a minor case.A press conference on the shooting is expected to be held next week.Police have not released any details about the suspect, including their name and age.
Fort Worth police are investigating an officer-involved shooting that left a man dead Saturday night after a brief vehicular chase in South Fort Worth ended in gunfire, authorities said.Officer-involved shootingEarly Sunday morning, officials with the Fort Worth Police Department released more information about the shooting. Members of the department's Directed Response Unit were conducting an investigation into a known suspect wanted on an outstanding felony warrant for tampering with an electronic monitoring device around 6:45 p.m., according to a news release from the Fort Worth Police Department.Shortly after 8 p.m., officers spotted the suspect driving a vehicle near Interstate 35 and Risinger Road. When officers activated their emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop, the suspect fled, prompting a short pursuit.The suspect drove into a parking lot near the 100 block of Palette Drive and came to a stop. As officers approached the vehicle and issued verbal commands, the suspect
Fort Worth police shot and killed a man armed with a knife outside a West Fort Worth apartment complex early Sunday morning after he advanced toward officers during a domestic disturbance response.
A woman and a juvenile were hospitalized early Sunday morning following a shooting in the Pleasant Grove area of Dallas, and a 20-year-old man was later arrested in connection with the investigation, police said.
Austin Metcalf's father announced Friday the creation of the Austin Metcalf Foundation, saying its mission is to help prevent tragedies through conflict resolution and emotional regulation programs for young people.Jeff Metcalf also commented on the upcoming appeal hearing in the murder case involving his son's death and addressed remarks he made after the trial ended, and the gag order was lifted.Austin Metcalf Foundation announces missionJeff Metcalf said the foundation will honor his son's memory by focusing on de-escalation strategies, conflict resolution and emotional regulation for young people."We're gonna change the world. We're going to save lives. And we're starting the Austin Metcalf Foundation," Metcalf said.The foundation's website says it plans to provide presentations and educational programs at schools, churches and athletic programs.During Friday's press conference, Metcalf was joined by Dr. Bruce Carter, a community advocate and founding member of the foundation's boa
The Parker County Sheriff's Office has arrested a woman accused of breaking into an 86-year-old man's home, assaulting him and demanding money.Jacqueline Smith Johnson was charged with aggravated robbery of an elderly person. She was taken into custody on July 20 and booked into the Parker County jail on a $50,000 bond.Deputies were called to the home on July 16, where the man said he heard someone banging on his back door and saying they were police. When the man answered the door, he said the person shined a "strobing flashlight" in his face and demanded money.The man told deputies that he was hit in the arms and chest several times before being put in a choke hold. During the struggle, the man told investigators he was able to recognize the suspect as Johnson, whom the victim knew.Deputies said Johnson physically assaulted the man, took $2,000 in cash from him and fled the home.Deputies did not provide details on the relationship between Johnson and the victim.
A 25-year-old Texas man has been charged with capital murder after his 2-year-old daughter died inside a locked vehicle while he slept for hours following a night of drinking, police said.
