A fatal shooting on Wednesday afternoon at a North Dallas homeless encampment is the second homicide in three months, according to police records.
The Dallas Police Department (DPD) released new details in the shooting that left a 33-year-old man dead.
As shots rang out, a City of Dallas Code Compliance officer was nearby and called 911, according to DPD.
The city department is tasked with helping address and clear homeless encampments.
According to a city spokesman, “the gunshots were neither the result of nor connected with the Code Compliance Officer’s activity.”
Police have not yet made an arrest in the case or released suspect information.
The name of the victim has not yet been released by the Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Dallas police officers returned to the scene Thursday and carefully canvassed the wooded area with makeshift shelters along the creek in the 14700 block of Preston Road.
A resident who lives at an apartment complex near the scene spoke with NBC 5 but asked not to be identified.
“Since I’ve been here, which is two years [the homeless encampment] has been growing quite a bit and I don’t feel safe,” she said. “There’s plenty of trash left behind. They leave carts. It’s just… I’m not happy.”
Last November, police say a 33-year-old woman was stabbed to death underneath the bridge.
The U.S. Marshal’s fugitive task force captured the suspect a few days later.
At the time, DPD praised the Homeless Outreach Team’s “consistent presence and trust-building” at the encampment, which led to the recovery of the alleged murder weapon.
After Wednesday’s deadly encounter, crime tape and trash are all that remain, at least for now.
NBC 5 asked the city of Dallas if it was or will be taking action to clear out the encampment. Kevin Oden, Director of Emergency Management and Crisis Response, said: “We will evaluate all options for that location with a priority focus on public safety.”