Fort Worth educator calls for action on gun violence after another teen is shot and killed in less than a week

When educator and Fort Worth community leader Johnny Cook Muhammad arrived at Metro Opportunity High School Monday morning, he got news not even longevity helps make easier — another teenager had been killed by gunfire.

“Well, it hit me pretty hard this morning when I came into school,” Muhammad said.

He said the loss quickly became personal inside the school building because he knew the teen’s death would have an impact.

“To see one of our students hurt because that was her best friend,” Muhammad said.

Fort Worth police say 16-year-old Jaydon Jones was inside a South Hulen Street home Easter weekend when a gun went off by mistake, killing him. Police arrested the friend of the dead teen who stayed and cooperated with investigators.

“This is not a video game where you get to come back… another life is gone… and we have to show our children how valuable they are,” Muhammad said.

Muhammad said Jaydon Jones was scheduled to return to Southwest High School this week, where friends are now mourning his death, which follows the recent shooting death of another Fort Worth teen. Fort Worth ISD confirmed they are offering grief counselling at Southwest High School to anyone who needs help coping with Jones’ death.

Another victim, 15-year-old Prince Washington, was killed in a drive-by shooting last week. Police believe more than one person fired dozens of rounds into his Glenbrook Lane home while he was in his room.

“He walked out of the room bleeding, saying ‘Dad, I just got hit,’ and then collapsed on the floor,” his father, DFW Shaka, said.

Fort Worth Homicide Detectives continue to follow several leads in the drive-by shooting case. Police leaders urge the shooters in that case to come forward.

“We are seeing far too many kids having access to guns, and this is sometimes the result,” Fort Worth Police Officer Tracy Carter said.

Carter said these types of tragedies are preventable and urged gun owners to secure their weapons before another family is forced to grieve.

“In our community, we have really got to start educating on gun violence,” Muhammad said.

He is now planning a wrap session with teens, hoping to reach them before another life is lost.

“Because our children think this is normal, and it’s not normal,” Muhammad said.