While police investigated a shooting in Deep Ellum that injured five people, a separate shooting involving a security guard was reported on Elm Street, police say.
DALLAS — Dallas Police are investigating two separate shootings in Deep Ellum on Wednesday morning, officials say.
Around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dallas Police responded to reports of multiple people being shot in the 2900 block of Commerce Street. When officers arrived on the scene, they found five people with gunshot wounds. All five victims had non-life-threatening injuries, according to officials on scene. Three of the victims were taken to the hospital by Dallas Fire-Rescue; the other two by private vehicle, according to police. All three victims are reported to be in stable condition, authorities say.
While officers were at the Commerce Street scene, a separate shooting call came in down the street in the 2800 block of Elm Street.
According to police, the preliminary investigation found that the suspect, 23-year-old Detorius Tarver was involved in a “physical disturbance inside a business, and shot Joseph Gray, 26.” Gray was employed as a security guard and was attempting to break up the fight when he was shot, police say. Gray was transported to the hospital by a co-worker, where he died from his injuries, according to authorities.
Tarver was arrested on the scene and charged with murder, police say.
Residents like Jay Sanchez said hearing the news of shootings happening in the neighborhood isn’t uncommon, but he says these hits closer.
“You don’t hear all this stuff going on in lower Greenville, bishop arts, downtown,” he said. “Why do they choose this area to cause all these problems.”
Officials say the two shootings are unrelated despite their proximity. Officers blocked off a large portion of Deep Ellum overnight as they investigated both shootings.
“It’s sad because there’s a beautiful neighborhood, a lot of history here,” said Sanchez.
In a statement, the Deep Ellum Foundation said their hearts go out to the family of the security officer killed and all the other victims of the overnight shootings.
“Deep Ellum is a beautiful, creative community full of passion and love and it is with deep sadness we proceed today in communicating with our community,” the release states. “We continue steadfastly in our mission to do everything in our power to protect Deep Ellum and welcome everyone to a safe, inviting neighborhood.”
Stephanie Keller Hudiburg is the executive director of Deep Ellum Foundation. She said on Wednesday, their officers responded to the shooting scenes in a matter of seconds.
“It’s a day of profound sadness for us here,” she said. Hudiburg said the foundation does have a safety plan in place for the community, and it’s always being updated to make sure the area is safe.
“We’re really looking to advance policy change including an entertainment permit, for areas like our across the city. This is a community that’s going to come together and it’s a community that’s creative and innovative and it’s going to tackle this just like we do everything that we do.”
The organization said it will continue to prioritize safety and quickly implement recommendations in the foundation’s Community Safety Plan.
Dallas Police continue to investigate what led up to both shootings.