A 16-year-old boy was shot and killed inside a Fort Worth apartment over the weekend in what police say was an accidental shooting, marking the second deadly incident involving teens in the city in a matter of days.
The Tarrant County Medical Examiner identified the victim as Jaydon Jones.
Fort Worth police said the shooting happened Sunday evening at an apartment complex along the 660 block of South Hulen Street. Investigators said another 16-year-old accidentally fired a gun, striking Jones in the chest.
Family members of the suspected shooter told WFAA off camera that the two teens had been best friends since sixth grade.
Police say the case underscores a troubling pattern.
“We are seeing far too many kids having access to guns and this is sometimes the result,” Fort Worth Police Officer Tracy Carter said.
Days earlier, 15-year-old Prince Washington was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting while inside his South Fort Worth home. Police said gunfire was exchanged outside the residence, and bullets struck the house, hitting Washington. He died at the scene.
Doctors say they are seeing the consequences firsthand in emergency rooms across North Texas.
“Preventable. These things are preventable,” said Dr. Daniel Guzman, a physician who treats gunshot victims at Cook Children’s Medical Center.
Guzman emphasized that safe firearm storage can make a critical difference.
“You also have to provide tools for them to be able to lock up that firearm, whether it’s a gun lock or gun safe,” Guzman said.
Guzman also initiated Cook Children’s “Aim for Safety” program, a community initiative focused on preventing accidental shootings involving children. The program provides free or low-cost gun locks, educates families on safe storage practices, and works to normalize conversations about firearm safety in homes.
According to Cook Children’s, the program partners with hospitals, schools and community groups to distribute safety devices and teach that firearms should be stored locked, unloaded and separate from ammunition. The effort is designed to reduce unintentional injuries and deaths among children, which often happen when a child gains access to an unsecured weapon.
“You do this for a long time, you realize the importance of being proactive,” Guzman said. “These children and individuals aren’t just numbers. That’s another child.”
Police say it is still unclear where the gun involved in Sunday’s shooting came from. The suspected shooter’s family told WFAA the gun did not belong to anyone in their family. Officers and medical experts agree that limiting access to firearms is key to preventing future tragedies.
“Making sure we limit access to firearms is number one,” Guzman said.