As deputies investigate, surveillance video shows someone taking off with thousands of dollars worth of fireworks from Johnny Fireworks in Crowley.
CROWLEY, Texas — Just days ahead of the Fourth of July holiday, a beloved family-run fireworks stand in Tarrant County was hit by a major theft that left behind damage, heartbreak, and a mission to move forward with grace.
Surveillance video shows a person in a pickup truck backing into the lot at Johnny Fireworks in Crowley, walking up to the stand, and then driving off with a truck bed full of the store’s most valuable fireworks. The theft occurred early Friday morning, Jonathan Cook, the owner of Johnny Fireworks, said.
Cook said the loss totals in the tens of thousands of dollars, a significant blow for a business that he and his team spent nearly the entire year preparing for.
“What this feels like is that we have a big birthday party and someone, an hour before the party, came and took the cake and the presents,” Cook said. “This stuff comes from China; there’s no way to replace it on time.”
The business was left damaged, with locks cut and merchandise missing. For Cook, the impact runs deeper than financial loss.
“It’s hard to even talk about,” Cook said. “People don’t see the 11 months before the Fourth of July that we pour our heart and soul into this — a huge team, we love this company — and for someone not to even care, it hurts.”
Cook reported the crime to the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office, and a deputy responded. In a statement to WFAA, the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office said:
“We responded to the business, and the caller had not yet compiled a list of everything that was stolen. We are waiting for the business owner to provide further information related to the theft so the investigation can move forward.”
Despite the setback, Cook said he’s choosing to focus on hope and compassion.
He shared news of the incident in a Facebook post that has quickly gone viral, with words of support from people across the country.
“To the person who broke into our fireworks stand and drove off with thousands of dollars worth of inventory in the back of your Dodge truck—thank you,” Cook said in his Facebook post. “…your actions reminded me of something bigger: people are hurting.”
Cook, who describes his business as being built around fun and celebration, is now trying to turn a painful situation into a message of resilience.
“Joy comes in the morning,” he said. “I don’t know any other way than to choose grace for people in the situation that this man was in,” he said. “I feel for him. I pray for him.”
As the stand continues to restock and prepare for the holiday rush, Cook said he remains committed to spreading positivity, even in the face of loss.