Fort Worth shooting: Dramatic video captures chaos at ComoFest two of three victims identified

Follow updates on the July 4 gun violence in Fort Worth including the mass shooting at ComoFest

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Dramatic footage has captured the chaotic moment that gunfire erupted at Fort Worth’s ComoFest on the eve of July 4, leaving three victims dead.

The video shows terrified revellers fleeing as shots are fired into the crowd.

Police in Fort Worth, Texas, said that no suspects have been identified but that “several unknown males were reported to have started firing into the crowd indiscriminately and then fled the scene”.

Two of the three victims killed were identified on Tuesday as Cynthia Santos, 22, and Paul Willis, 18.

The incident marked just one of four shootings that left at least 17 people shot – three of them fatally – in Fort Worth, Texas, on the night of July 3.

The other three shoootings took place at a home, an AMC movie theatre, and in a car.

Following a wave of shootings this week, President Joe Biden renewed his calls for Congress to act and “come to the table on meaningful, common sense reform” on gun control.

Key points

• Dramatic video shows chaos of shooting
• Three victims killed, eight injured in mass shooting
• No arrests made, no suspects named
• Fort Worth rocked by four shootings on eve of July 4
• Shooting comes after gunfire erupted at 2021 ComoFest
• President Biden releases statement on July 4 gun violence

[4 July 2023 12:55 · Rachel Sharp]

Welcome to The Independent’s liveblog

Follow updates on the mass shooting at a July 4 fireworks display in the Como neighbourhood of Fort Worth, Texas

[4 July 2023 12:56 · Rachel Sharp]

FULL STORY: Three people killed and eight wounded in mass shooting at July 4 fireworks event in Fort Worth

At leat three people have been killed and eight others wounded in a mass shooting at a July 4 fireworks display in Fort Worth, Texas.

The massacre unfolded just before midnight on Monday night as revellers gathered to enjoy Independence Day celebrations in the area of Diaz Avenue and Horne Street in Fort Worth’s Como neighbourhood.

Fort Worth Police said that investigators believe someone opened fire into the crowd, hitting at least 11 people and sending terrified revellers running for their lives.

Read the full story here:

[4 July 2023 13:10 · Rachel Sharp]

How the shooting unfolded:

The massacre unfolded just before midnight on Monday night as revellers gathered to enjoy Independence Day celebrations in the area of Diaz Avenue and Horne Street in Fort Worth’s Como neighbourhood.

Fort Worth Police said that investigators believe someone opened fire into the crowd, hitting at least 11 people and sending terrified revellers running for their lives.

“We had a shooting. It appears that we had multiple victims that were shot. Probably three of them were transported to Harris Southwest,” said Fort Worth Police Captain Shawn Murray in a press conference.

“Five more victims were transported to John Peter Smith.”

Three victims were killed while another eight suffered were injured in the shooting.

[4 July 2023 13:20 · Rachel Sharp]

Three victims killed in shooting

Three victims have been killed in the mass shooting that unfolded as people gathered to celebrate the annual ComoFest the night before July 4.

One shooting victim was pronounced dead at the scene while the other 10 were rushed to hospital, reported WFAA.

Two other victims were pronounced dead taking the death toll up to three.

[4 July 2023 13:40 · Rachel Sharp]

Shooter or shooters still at large

No arrests have been made and the identities of the shooter or shooters remain unknown.

Fort Worth Police Captain Shawn Murray in a press conference that investigators are working to determine how many people opened fire.

“We don’t if this was domestic related or gang related. It’s too early to tell,” he said.

“We just know someone shot a bunch of times. We don’t know if it was a single shooter or more than one shooter.

“We hope it is just a single shooter and not a crossfire situation. Homicide will figure that out... how many shooters there were.”

[4 July 2023 14:00 · Rachel Sharp]

WATCH: Fort Worth community rocked by mass shooting

[4 July 2023 14:20 · Rachel Sharp]

Fort Worth police describe chaotic scene

Fort Worth Police described a chaotic scene after at least one shooter opened fire into the crowd, striking at least 11 people and sending revellers running for their lives.

Emergency responders then struggled to reach the victims due to the large crowds of people and the number of vehicles in the area, police said.

Because of this, officers resorted to loading victims into their patrol cars and driving them to waiting paramedics, police said.

[4 July 2023 14:40 · Rachel Sharp]

Who are the victims?

Three people were killed and at least another eight injured in a mass shooting at the annual ComoFest late on 3 July.

One shooting victim was pronounced dead at the scene while the other 10 were rushed to hospital, reported WFAA.

Two other victims were pronounced dead taking the death toll up to three.

The identities of the victims are currently unknown.

One of the 11 is believed to be a juvenile while the other 10 are adults.

[4 July 2023 15:00 · Rachel Sharp]

Shooting marks second at annual ComoFest

The mass shooting came just hours after the neighbourhood’s annual ComoFest came to an end.

This isn’t the first time Fort Worth’s ComoFest ended in tragedy.

Two years ago in 2021, eight people were shot close to a car wash on Horne Street during the celebrations. All shooting victims survived back then.

[4 July 2023 15:20 · Rachel Sharp]

Over in Philadelphia: Five killed in mass shooting

Five people have been killed and at least two others wounded in the Kingsessing neighbourhood of Philadelphia on Monday night, when a gunman dressed in a bullet-proof vest and armed with an AR-15-style rifle and a handgun opened fire.

The mass shooting unfolded at around 8.30pm when Philadelphia police said the 40-year-old suspect left his home and began shooting at victims.

Police initially said that four men were killed but early on Tuesday revealed that a fifth victim, a 31-year-old man, had since been found dead inside a home. Two children – aged two and 13 – were also injured in the shooting but are in stable condition.

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