Federal prosecutors set Tuesday press conference on Deep Ellum shootings

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas will hold a press conference at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3, to discuss the recent gun violence in the Deep Ellum district. This briefing comes one day after federal officials announced they are taking action on the cases. U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould is expected to lead the remarks. He will be joined by Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux. Representatives from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Agency, U.S. Marshals, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Texas Department of Public Safety will also attend.

Dallas Police reported three distinct shootings occurred late on Halloween evening. The first incident took place around midnight in the 2600 block of Elm Street, where five people were shot in a parking lot. Minutes later, gunfire erupted on Commerce Street near South Crowdus Street, resulting in three deaths. A third shooting occurred around 1:35 a.m. on Sunday in the 200 block of South Crowdus Street, killing one person. Public records identified two of the victims as 28-year-old Unique Elise Benjamin and 21-year-old Kanisea Scott.

Chief Comeaux stated that the department does not believe the three shootings are connected. He noted that officers were two blocks from the initial shooting and responded quickly. The department has witnesses and has made arrests, though officers continue to search for additional suspects. Comeaux asked businesses to provide surveillance video. He emphasized that even footage that appears unhelpful might contain critical details.

Thomas Jennings, a manager at St. Pete's Dancing Marlin, described the noise as sounding like fireworks hitting a wall. He said he was cleaning barware when he saw people ducking and running. Jennings admitted he let a woman into the bar who had been caught in the crossfire. Her car was totaled, and she witnessed the event. Carlton Scott, owner of Burrito Bandits, said the neighborhood was having a good night before the violence. Both men expressed frustration over the area's reputation, noting that Deep Ellum is not the issue.

The Deep Ellum Foundation announced listening sessions with Mayor Pro Tem Moreno. These meetings will take place at the Deep Ellum Community Center on Wednesday, November 4, at 6 p.m. and Friday, November 6, at 2 p.m. The foundation aims to discuss safety standards and policy changes for late-night venues in the district.

This event follows a similar incident in May. During that weekend, a man named Detorius Tarver shot five people in a non-life-threatening attack. About two hours later, he killed 26-year-old security officer Joseph Gray. Gray was trying to break up a fight when Tarver opened fire. Tarver was arrested at the scene and charged with murder. The victim's sister, Christine Smith, questioned how a weapon got past security and noted that Gray had no protective vest. Smith said Gray was excited to be a dad to his partner's unborn child.

In June, a lawsuit was filed against La Tardeada and Tarver. The suit claims the club allowed patrons to pay to bypass security. It seeks $1 million in damages. Additionally, 23-year-old Demond Hardy was arrested for a separate shooting in the 2900 block of Elm Street. He faces four counts of aggravated assault by discharging a firearm into an occupied building.