Fort Worth aims to cut down on random gunfire

Frustrated South Fort Worth homeowner attends press event to face leaders over city response

Fort Worth police and city leaders on Tuesday announced a new citywide campaign aimed at reducing illegal gunfire and improving community safety ahead of summer.

Officials gathered at Fort Worth City Hall to announce the initiative and demonstrate gun safety techniques.

“Today, the city is launching a very important citywide public education campaign focused on the dangers of illegal gun fire and the critical importance of reasonable and responsible gun ownership,” Mayor Mattie Parker said. “As we head into the summer months, our goal is very clear. Reduce stray bullet incidents, protect our neighborhoods, and save lives for Fort Worth residents.”

While violent crime has declined, city leaders said Fort Worth continues to deal with thousands of stolen firearms that are later linked to crimes or illegal gunfire incidents.

According to Fort Worth Police Chief Eddie Garcia, more than 2,300 firearms have been reported stolen in the city since the beginning of 2024.

“The largest source of stolen firearms, vehicle burglaries, more than half of all stolen firearms, 1185 guns were taken from vehicles in 2025,” Garcia said. “Firearm theft from vehicles jumped from 408 to 611. These are firearms are being left in unlocked cars, center consoles, glove boxes, backpacks, and under seats.”

The city is also providing a limited number of free gun locks at patrol divisions across Fort Worth, according to a police spokesperson.

City data shows arrests tied to illegal gunfire increased 28% between 2024 and 2025.

“If you choose to engage in this behavior, understand there will be major consequences,” Garcia said. “We're seeing far too many firearms being stolen and later ending up connected to criminal activity or worse, injuring innocent lives.”

Daniel Guzman, medical director for Cook Children’s Center for Community Health and an emergency department physician for Cook Children’s Health Care System, also shared recent gun violence data.

“In 2025, we saw 68 gun-related injuries with one fatality. This year so far, we have seen 19 total injuries with two fatalities,” Guzman said.

In January, a stray bullet struck and killed a 66-year-old woman while she slept inside her South Fort Worth home.

Residents in the Sycamore Landing subdivision have also raised concerns for months about repeated gunfire in their neighborhood.

Several homeowners told NBC 5 they feel unsafe and believe more action is needed.

Among them is Ernesto Arango, a combat veteran who described the area as feeling like a “war zone.”

“We have an old saying in the Marine Corps: the squeakiest wheel gets the grease, and I think that's what everybody needs to think about in their communities,” Arango told NBC 5. “If they’re having problems, is be that squeaky wheel.”

Residents first spoke publicly about the issue in December. They said armed youth appeared to target one home while bullets struck multiple neighboring houses.

One resident previously described the neighborhood at night as resembling the “Wild West.”

Neighbors told NBC 5 they routinely call 911 to report suspicious activity and gunfire.

Last Wednesday, surveillance cameras captured an unknown suspect firing over a backyard fence, striking at least two homes, including one where a family of four was sleeping.

“It's frustrating, it's fearful,” homeowner Jeremy King said after his home was struck by gunfire.

King told NBC 5 he called 911 after the shooting but had not heard back from police for several hours.

Arango said residents unsuccessfully sought additional security measures through their homeowners association and now want a clearer public safety plan from city leaders.

As Tuesday’s news conference concluded, NBC 5 asked Parker and Garcia about criticism from Sycamore Landing residents.

Both leaders said they were not immediately familiar with the specific incidents referenced.

“My office would be more than happy to sit with you to have these discussions,” Garcia said.

After the event, Garcia, Parker and several Fort Worth police officials spoke with Arango and gathered additional information about the neighborhood concerns.

“Thank you for making me aware of it today, introducing me to Ernesto,” Parker said. “It's very important we're on it right. I have full confidence that the chief knows. This is very serious. Let's make a difference for these neighbors to understand what that community needs.”

Arango said he left the meeting feeling cautiously optimistic.

“For now, I feel like maybe we're going to get things moving in the right direction,” he said. “It's just a matter of... What are we going to do in the next three months?”

He also encouraged residents across Fort Worth to continue reporting concerns and engaging with city leaders.

“They now have better details of exactly what's going on, and I think this is what needs to happen,” Arango said. “More residents need to speak up.”