Three teenage boys shot at Arlington apartment complex, police say; two victims dead
Two teenage boys were shot to death and a third was injured when gunfire erupted Friday afternoon at a south Arlington apartment complex, police said.
The victims were shot about 1:30 p.m. in the 6000 block of Clearwater Drive, police said.
A disturbance at a business preceded the shooting and spilled into the complex, police said.
Police had not announced an arrest Friday evening. Officers were processing the scene, speaking to witnesses and looking for surveillance video. Witnesses indicated that one or two people left the scene.
Police found two guns at the scene.
Two of the victims, whose names and ages authorities had not released, died at a hospital.
Family members told Star-Telegram media partner WFAA-TV that the two victims who died were brothers Josh Williams, 13, and Kaleb Williams, 17.
The Williams’ brothers aunts pleaded for anyone with information about the killings to come forward, WFAA reported.
“They were great children,” Mariah Williams told WFAA. “I don’t understand why this happened, these were good kids not gangbangers.”
Deputy Police Chief Chris Cook confirmed in an email that the two teens who died are believed to be siblings. They were shot on the lower landing area of a breezeway next to an apartment building, he said.
The third victim left the scene and got into a car. Police found him, and he was taken to a hospital. Cook told WFAA he was critical and in surgery.
Police continued to investigate the scene near a three-story building at the Artisan at Rush Creek Apartments on Friday evening.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Detective Hall at 817-459-5325. Tipsters can also remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers of Tarrant County at 817-469-TIPS (8477).
Arlington police are continuing an initiative to curb a recent increase in violent crimes reported in the city, which is a trend seen across Dallas-Fort Worth, the police chief and other officials said at a news conference Monday.
Many of the violent offenses in Arlington have been committed by minors who illegally possessed guns, Police Chief Al Jones said at Monday’s news conference.
In a tweet after Friday’s shooting, Jones said, “Unfortunately, two teens lost their lives this afternoon to senseless gun violence. We just held a presser on Monday denouncing gun violence and discussing how guns are getting into the hands of our kids. More needs to be done to bring our kids together and reduce gun violence.”
Deputy Chief Kyle Dishko, commander of the Operation Connect initiative, said the city has made more than 380 arrests since the program began in April.
Police have confiscated firearms, some in traffic stops, and are working with the ATF to file more charges in federal court.
This story was originally published July 23, 2021 at 4:56 PM.
