DALLAS – Authorities have identified two of four people killed in a series of shootings that left 15 others injured in Deep Ellum’s entertainment district after Halloween celebrations Sunday morning.
2 Deep Ellum shooting victims identified
What we know:
The Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office identified two of the victims: Kaniesa Scott, 21, and Unique Elise Benjamin, 28.
Scott was pronounced dead at 1:08 a.m. Sunday at Baylor University Medical Center, according to medical examiner records. Benjamin died at 11:30 p.m. Sunday on the roadway in the 200 block of South Crowdus Street.
The backstory:
The violence unfolded for about 75 minutes at three separate crime scenes, located blocks apart in the popular nightlife district.
The first shooting happened around 12:20 a.m. Sunday in the 2600 block of Elm Street, police said. A second shooting followed around 1:05 a.m. in the 2600 block of Main Street, and the third was reported around 1:35 a.m. in the 200 block of South Crowdus Street.
Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux said the overall injury toll, about 15 people, remained fluid, with several victims transported to local hospitals after the shooting.
Officers have been given additional assignments in Deep Ellum to handle expected Halloween crowds. In one case, officers positioned less than two blocks away ran toward the sound of gunfire and took life-saving measures, resuscitating at least one victim, Comeaux said.
What they say:
“We had a full complement here,” Comeaux said at a news conference. “We looked at the plan. We knew it was Saturday night. We knew it was Halloween, so we had the proper staffing.”
Dallas Mayor Eric L. Johnson called the violence “unacceptable” in a statement Sunday and reiterated that public safety is the city’s top priority. The Deep Ellum Foundation announced it will host community listening sessions this week and connect grieving families with mental health resources.
Police have made arrests and interviewed several people, but investigators said they currently have no evidence indicating the three shootings are connected or what motivated the attacks.
What’s next:
Investigators are canvassing area businesses, collecting surveillance footage and gathering shell casings from active crime scenes. Dallas police are asking anyone with photos, videos or social media clips from the area during the incidents to contact Sgt. Boz Rojas at 214-671-3598 or by email at boz.rojas@dallaspolice.gov.
The source : Information in this article comes from the Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office, the Dallas Police Department and previous reports.
Gn usa
