Teenage boy found shot dead behind abandoned building in Fort Worth identified

A 16-year-old boy was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds behind an abandoned building in east Fort Worth about noon on Saturday, police said.

The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim Monday as Javarus Jackson.

Units were dispatched around noon to an abandoned gas station at 2016 Stalcup Road after police received a report of an unresponsive person. Officers found the victim and determined he was dead.

Police haven’t said if there are any suspects or whether they have determined a possible motive for the shooting.

Neighbors told the Star-Telegram they heard gunshots on Saturday morning but did not see anything.

An investigation is ongoing, police said. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the FWPD Homicide Unit at 817-392-4344.

Neighbors said they hear gunshots coming from nearby occasionally, but never this close.

Mike Adkins said he heard a flurry of gunshots that night and heard his neighbor’s dog barking for 10 to 15 minutes. He decided to go outside and take a look, but did not venture very far from his door.

Darlene Currin said she heard people yelling at each other about 3 a.m. on Saturday. And then she heard about eight shots fired in rapid succession. Currin said she turned off her light and retreated deeper into her home.

Both said the immediate neighborhood had not had anything like this happen since they have lived here.

“I guess it shouldn’t surprise me, but it did,” Adkins said.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct the location where the victim was found and the victim’s age.

This story was originally published November 30, 2019 at 7:42 PM.