15-year-old killed in Fort Worth shooting loved God, had NBA dreams, father says
In 15-year-old Prince Semaj Washington’s bedroom, shoes are displayed on the walls.
One pair of pristine white Nike Air Force Ones, completely free of creases. Blue-and-white Air Jordans with silver accents. Fuzzy green Nike Dunks with a blue swish logo.
Unfinished snack packages are strewn over the teenager’s room: an open Lunchable with crackers left, a package of Chips Ahoy cookies.
Prince Washington will never wear the shoes again, or finish the snacks. He was killed in a drive-by shooting at his south Fort Worth home early Thursday morning. The same walls where the shoes are displayed are now riddled with bullet holes and police markers, a few of hundreds throughout the house where he lived with his father.
“He was a great kid,” James Washington said of his son. “He loved the Lord, and he did what’s right. He’s not a kid that is trying to do grown-up stuff.”
Police responded to the Washingtons’ home in the 6700 block of Glenbrook Lane about 1:30 a.m. Thursday after James Washington called to report the attack, he said. The shooting ended after about four or five minutes of constant gunshots.
James Washington left his bedroom after the shooting stopped, and so did Prince, who was bleeding, he said.
“He said, ‘Dad, I just got hit,’ and he walked right here and collapsed,” Washington said, gesturing at a spot on the living room floor. “He stayed alive maybe about two minutes, just breathing real hard, and died.”
Prince was taken to John Peter Smith Hospital and was pronounced dead at 2:22 a.m., police said.
The teenager was a student at South Hills Highs School in Fort Worth ISD.
‘Fort Worth ISD is mourning the loss of Prince Washington, a South Hills High School student who died last night,” district officials said. “We recognize that this loss may deeply affect students and staff in different ways. The district remains focused on ensuring students and staff receive care, compassion, and appropriate support.”
Counseling services are available on campus for anyone who needs them, school officials said.
Prince played on the basketball team at South Hills, and was pursuing a goal of becoming an NBA player, his father said. Prince’s favorite professional player was Carmelo Anthony, who retired from the league as a Los Angeles Laker in 2022. The 15-year-old’s cat, which crept carefully through the front yard on Thursday afternoon, is named Melo after the player.
Washington took his son to the gym every weekend to practice on the court. Outside of basketball, Prince loved to play games on his PlayStation system and talk to his girlfriend.
Prince and his father had only lived in the neighborhood for three months prior to the shooting, which is why Washington says he believes the assailants may have been targeting previous tenants of the home.
“I don’t have any enemies,” Washington said. “It wasn’t for me, and it wasn’t for him at all. Had to be for who lived here before me.”
For nine hours overnight, Washington sat in a van outside his home, watching homicide detectives process the crime scene. Anytime he thinks about what happened, he said, he starts to tear up.
“I really miss him,” Washington said. “A lot.”
The family set up a GoFundMe to help with funeral costs, Washington said.
No arrests have been made in the case as of Thursday. Fort Worth police are asking anyone with information to contact the department at 817-392-4330. Tips may also be submitted anonymously through Tarrant County Crime Stoppers by visiting 469tips.com or calling 817-469-8477.
This story was originally published April 2, 2026 at 10:15 PM.
